Candystripes closing on Sligo
DERRY CITY moved to within three points of thirdplaced Sligo Rovers with a comprehensive victory over bottom of the table Longford at the Brandywell.
First- half goals from
Jamie McGonigle and James Akintunde sent the home side on their way.
And Junior Ogedi- Uzokwe made certain of the win.
Derry fans displayed a large banner which read ‘Love Junior, hate racism’
Derry doubled their advantage just short of the half hour when Fitzgerald laid the ball into the path of Akintunde and his strike from 20 yards took a wicked deflection to find the net
The third goal came l nine minutes from time. Evan McLaughlin’s pass picked out Danny Lafferty, and although his volley was brilliantly parried by Steacy, the ball fell for Junior to finish it off.
SUBSTITUTES
King 6 (for Forrester 58); Griffin 5 (for Abankwah 63); Melvin- Lambert (for Coughlan 83); McCormack for Lennon 83. NOT USED: Murphy, Nwoko, Hickman, McClelland, Corbally.
SUBSTITUTES
McCann (for Mandroiu 79); Greene 5 (for Gaffney 65); Farrugia (for Cotter 76). NOT USED: Emakhu, Pohls, Murphy, Wells, Noonan, McMenamy.
DERRY CITY: N Gartside 7: R Boyce 7 (C Porter 6, 87), E Toal 8, C McJannet 6; W Fitzgerald 6 (C Coll 7, 66), C Harkin 7 (G. Storey 6, 87), B. Hery 6, (E. McLaughlin 6, 66), D Lafferty 7; J Ogedi- Uzokwe 8, J Akintunde 8, J McGonigle 8 (J Malone 6, 78)
LONGFORD: L Steacy 5; S Elworthy 6, D Zambra 5 (P Kirk 6 75), D Grimes 6 (C Davis 6, 82), D Williams 6, A. O’Driscoll 6, D. Nugent 6, A. Dervin 6, D. Byrne 6 (A Dobbs 6, 75), A McNally 6, J Manley 6.
Referee: J McLoughlin.