James Akintunde inflicts first defeat of the season on Derry City
Former Candystripe scores the decisive goal as Ruaidhri Higgins' team falls to defeat despite Ronan Boyce goal at Dalymount Park
Bohemians 2
Derry City 1
James Akintunde was the Bohemians hero as Derry City fell to their first defeat of the season at Dalymount Park.
The former Derry City striker scored what proved to be the winning goal, finishing from close range 13 minutes from time to give managerless Bohemians a huge boost.
It was a night of regret for Ruaidhri Higgins and his players, who gifted their opponents the opening goal as well as missing a number of big chances at the other end.
The visitors should have taken the lead on 20 minutes when Bohs’ centre-halves Mills and Cian Byrne got in each other’s way, allowing Daniel Kelly to go through on goal. The winger attempted to toe poke the bouncing ball past the Bohs goalkeeper, but didn’t get enough on it and Chorazka was able to gather.
But it was Bohemians who took the lead right in the half hour and it was courtesy of a gift from their opponents as Sam Todd completely under hit a back pass to his goalkeeper, which out Dayle Rooney through on goal to sweep the ball past Brian Maher to make it 1-0.
It could have been even worse for Derry just three minutes later when Connolly got the better of Todd and went through on goal before crashing to the ground after a challenge from Maher. Referee Rob Hennessey immediately blew the whistle, but instead of pointing to the penalty spot as most of Dalymount expected, the official cautioned Connolly for diving and awarded a free kick to Derry City. Replays showed it was the right call with Connolly clearly looking for the penalty with minimal contact between he and the goalkeeper.
An absolutely brilliant save from Brian Maher saved Derry City from falling 2-0 down just three minutes into the second half. Todd gave the ball away again and struggled to catch Connolly who whipped a cross into the near post where Piszczek looked certain to score with a close-range header, but Maher denied him with a superb save.
Derry responded with a big chance of their own, with Adam O’Reilly running 30 yards before timing his pass perfectly to send Kelly in on goal, but again the winger was unable to beat Chorazka who came out and blocked the shot.
It looked as if the game was up for Derry when they conceded a second on 77 minutes, Rooney’s corner hooked home from close range by former Candystripe James Akintunde.
But Derry pulled one back immediately when Will Patching’s cross was cleared to the edge of the area, where Ronan Boyce struck the ball straight through a crowded penalty area and into the bottom corner of the net to set up a hectic finale at Dalymount.
Teams
Bohemians: Chorazka, Kirk, Byrne (Keita 25’), Flores McManus 72’), Rooney, Piszczek (Akintunde 51’), Connolly, Clarke (Grant 88’), McDonnell, Llander, Mills.
Derry: Maher, Boyce, Connolly, McJannet, Todd (Coll 56’), O’Reilly, McEneff (P McEleney 56’), McMullan, Kelly (Patton 75’), Mullen (Patching 75’), Hoban.
Referee: Rob Henessey.