Derry City 3 Longford Town 1Derry City received a standing ovation from 2,500 fans at the Brandywell last night following this impressive victory over fourth-placed Longford Town. And the visitors will have no complaints as the home side dominated the game to extend their unbeaten run to 19 games.

Playing fluent football, Derry broke the deadlock in the 15th minute. A cross from Kevin Deery following a throw-in on the right saw Longford goalkeeper Shay Kelly get a fist to the ball, before Paddy McCourt rose to head it home.

Three minutes later the home side were unlucky when Alan Murphy met Gareth McGlynn's cross but his header crashed off the post. And Murphy tested the woodwork again when his shot cannoned off the crossbar. Longford's Stephen Paisley and Seán Prunty combined to clear the ball off their goalline after a Mark Farren effort in the 25th minute.

Longford's Stephen Gough then cleared the ball off his line when McCourt's shot beat Kelly before the home side doubled their lead. In the 32nd minute Murphy floated a free into the danger area and, as the Longford defence raced out to catch Derry offside, McGlynn timed his run to perfection before squeezing the ball home.

Longford went close in the 54th minute when Stephen Paisley's header screamed narrowly wide. But it was the home side who increased their lead to 3-0 when McGlynn added his second, driving the ball home with an angled shot from 16 yards.

Longford grabbed a consolation goal in the 85th minute when substitute Alan Cawley curled a superb free to the net.

DERRY CITY: Forde; Deery, Hutton, Delaney, Hargan; McGlynn, Murphy, Molloy, McCourt ; Beckett, Farren. Subs: O'Flynn for McCourt (65 mins), Martyn for Murphy (89 mins).

LONGFORD TOWN: Kelly; Gough, Paisley, Dillon, Prunty; Baker, Martin, Byrne, Kirby; Mooney, Keegan. Subs: Fitzgerald for Gough (71 mins), Cronin for Baker (71 mins), Cawley for Mooney (77 mins).

Referee: John Feighery (Dublin).