Derry City showed great determination to seal a deserved win over Bohemians, at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
Michael Duffy's superb long range free-kick in the 10th minute sealed the points for Tiernan Lynch’s side.
The Foylesiders played with more energy at the start of the contest and in midfielder Carl Winchester they had the best player on the pitch, as his work-rate and drive meant he produced a great man of the match display.
City started on the front foot and went close after just a few minutes but Dom Thomas’ strike was kept out by an out-rushing James Talbot.
The Bohs net-minder could do nothing on 10 minutes as Duffy’s stunning 30 yard free-kick found the keeper’s top left hand corner.
The winger’s wonder goal was his fifth in his last seven games against the Gypsies and also has become the Foylesiders’ top scorer against the Dubliners.
Referee Marc Lynch took centre six minutes later as he dismissed both Lynch and Alan Reynolds, after both benches got involved with each following Shane Ferguson’s challenge on Dawson Devoy.
Reynolds’ side should have equalised on 20 minutes Kian Best’s right wing free-kick picked out an unmarked Lys Mousset, but the striker headed wide with the goal at his mercy.
The Brandywell men were inches away from adding a second on 35 minutes as Liam Boyce’s clever cross field pass found Thomas, but the right winger’s cross into the six yard box flashed just in front of the ex-Hearts striker.
The visitors should have equalised on 53 minutes as full-back Liam Smith put in a teasing cross to the back post, but left-winger Connor Parsons’ saw his header from close range whistle just wide.
Neither side created much after Parsons’ header, although Adam O’Reilly should have done better on 72 minutes but his glancing header failed to trouble Talbot, after the midfielder had been picked out by Thomas.
Derry City: Brian Maher, Ronan Boyce, Mark Connolly, San Todd, Shane Ferguson (Ben Doherty 62); Sadou Diallo (Robbie Benson 62), Carl Winchester, Adam O’Reilly; Dom Thomas (Paul McMullan 82), Liam Boyce (Pat Hoban 73), Michael Duffy.
Bohemians: James Talbot, Liam Smith, Rob Cornwall (Sean Grehan HT), Leigh Kavanagh, Kian Best (Keith Buckley 72); Dawson Devoy, Niall Morahan (Adam McDonnell 60), Ross Tierney; Connor Parsons, Lys Mousset (Colm Whelan 72), Rhys Brennan (Dale Rooney 60).
Referee: Marc Lynch (Galway).
