McLaughlin gets City off to winning start

Played in front of a large crowd the Brandywell men went close to opening the scoring as early as four minutes but David McDaid's stinging drive was well pushed away by Bohs keeper Craig Sexton.

Soon after Stewart Greacen was inches away from giving Derry the lead but his header flashed just wide.

The much talked about Patrick McEleney was unlucky not to score on 39 minutes but his header, which had beaten the stranded Sexton, sailed wide.

Just before the break the Dubliners were reduced to ten men when Adam Martin's two footed challenge on McLaughlin, saw him receive a straight red card from referee Neil Doyle.

The ten men fell a goal behind on 48 minutes when Madden's right wing centre found McLaughlin at the back post and he out-jumped Derek Pender to powerfully head home.

Minutes later Aaron Callaghan's side had a great opportunity to level but Dinny Corcoran's close range shot was kept out by Gerard Doherty's right boot.

Eight minutes from time McLaughlin should have done better when he latched onto Ruairdhi Higgins' pass but from a tight angle he blasted well over.

Derry City: Doherty, Madden, S McEleney, Greacen, McCaffrey, P McEleney, Molloy, Higgins, McLaughlin; McDaid, Patterson. Subs: Farren for McDaid (71); McCallion, McBride, Crossan, Morrison, Curran, Ferry.

Bohemians: Sexton, Heary, Pender, McMillen, Moore, Byrne, McMahon, Corcoran, Martin, Joyce. Subs: Lopez for Ward (44); O'Connor for Byrne (53); Wilson for Joyce (68).

Referee: Mr Neil Doyle (Dublin).