CLEVER clogs James Akintunde and Ronan Boyce used their heads to keep Derry City sitting pretty at the summit after a stunning comeback.
Super sub Akintunde floored Bohemians with the last touch of the game, heading home a deep cross in the third minute of injury-time.
And it was just rewards for the league leaders as boss Ruaidhri Higgins sensed the game was there for the taking after flipping it on its head.
When Boyce equalised with a header of his own, to cancel out Liam Burt’s silky opener, Higgins summoned Akintunde from the bench in a clear sign of their intent.
And the Candystripes already had Bohs on the rack by that stage, with James Talbot twice denying the visitors as they tried to plunder all three points.
It looked like Bohs were fast becoming draw specialists as they were on track for their fifth of the season - matching Dundalk - until Akintunde’s intervention.
And just as they did after their 1-1 draw at UCD, some Bohs fans booed on the final whistle as they labour with just one win all season.
But it didn’t have to be that way because their lead goal was worth the admission price alone - a spellbinding team move finished by Liam Burt.
But he could and should have added a second late on and the Gypsies paid the price for that miss.
Both these teams are back in action early next week with Derry travelling to UCD on Monday while Bohs are away to Sligo Rovers on Tuesday.
And those Gypsies supporters need no reminding now that their season is in dire need of a boost.
Yet they certainly liked what they saw in an end-to-end opening half.
Both sides created a slew of chances but the Gypsies were clinical when it mattered most as Burt broke the deadlock in the 25th minute.
Ali Coote was the catalyst behind a sublime team goal which Burt wrapped up.
First, he exchanged a one-two with Jordan Flores who fed Burt. The winger immediately passed to Burt who played in Promise Omochere.
The speed of movement had Derry in a flap.
Omochere neatly linked in with Coote who played in Burt again and, with a drop of the shoulder and change of direction, he scampered into the box and tucked home.
Three of Derry’s covering players were laying face down on the turf in that trail of destruction.
Tempers flared after the half-time whistle when a melee broke out in the centre-circle, although it was quickly defused by ref Adriano Reale, who booked Joe Thomson.
And Thomson’s night was over just 10 minutes into the second-half when he was withdrawn for Matty Smith.
Patrick McEleney had already been introduced at the break as the Candystripes upped the ante and they got their rewards.
Cameron Dummigan’s deep cross on the hour was inch perfect for Boyce who buried a powerful close range header past Talbot.
And both sides had chances to win it in the closing stages and Burt ought to have, but didn’t realise how much time he had when rushing a shot at Maher.
Akintunde then showed how it’s done with virtually the last play of the game, heading home McEleney’s cross, to spark chaotic scenes from the travelling team and their fans.
BOHEMIANS
James Talbot 7
Rory Feely 6
Grant Horton 6
Ciaran Kelly 6
Tyreke Wilson 6
Jordan Flores 7
Conor Levingston 6
Kris Twardek 6
Ali Coote 7
Liam Burt 7
Promise Omochere 6
Subs: Dawson Devoy for Omochere (74), Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe for Coote (74), McKiernan for Burt (86)
Subs not used: Tadhg Ryan, Max Murphy, JJ McKiernan, Sam Packham, Jamie Mullins, Cian Byrne, Nickson Okosun.
DERRY CITY
Brian Maher 7
Cameron McJannett 6
Shane McEleney 7
Eoin Toal 7
Ronan Boyce 7
Joe Thomson 5
Cameron Dummigan 7
Will Patching 5
Danny Lafferty 6
Brandon Kavanagh 7
Jamie McGonigle 7
Subs: Patrick McEleney for Patching (45), Matty Smith for Thomson (55), James Akintunde to Kavanagh (80).
Subs not used: Nathan Gartside. Ciaran Coll, Gerard Storey, Evan McLaughlin, Jack Malone, Liam Mullan
Referee: Adriano Reale
