Derry City 2-0 Glentoran

Derry City took a major step towards the semi-finals of the Setanta Sports Cup following what was a deserved victory over Glentoran at the Brandywell.

Goals on either side of half-time decided the issue as Derry's superior fitness levels were clearly apparent on the night - Glentoran having played just two games in the new Irish League season.

But Derry took time to get to grips with this affair as Glentoran went so close to breaking the deadlock with two shots at goal within the opening 26th minutes.

Full-back, Johnny Black flashed a free-kick at the target after just three minutes and Derry keeper Gerard Doherty had to be alert when getting down low to parry the ball wide of his upright.

But in the 26th minute, the Belfast side really should have moved into the driving seat.

The lively Andrew Waterworth weaved his way in behind the home defence and when his low centre was completed missed by Clive Delaney, the well placed Michael Halliday could only direct his shot in the welcoming hands of Doherty from eight yards.

That missed seemed to spark life into the Candystripes who had clearly struggled to get their passing game going.

In the 31st minute Mark Farren raced in on the blind side and having gained possession the Derry striker recklessly poked his shot wide of the target when he should have done better.

However, four minutes later Derry broke the deadlock following a superb free-kick by Ruaidhri Higgins.

Having been brought down on the edge of the area, Higgins dusted himself down to curl his effort over the defensive wall, the ball dipping into the corner of the net.

Indeed, Derry remain in the ascendancy to the break with Kevin McHugh driving two efforts narrowly wide of the target.

The home side continued to dominate the ball after the break with both Sammy Morrow and Niall McGinn blasting efforts over the top as the 'Glens' were pushed onto the back-foot.

However, in the 66th minute the visitors were denied an equaliser when Doherty produced a good save to deny Halliday after Waterworth had set him up.

The home side should have made the game safe in the 81st minute. McGinn, who terrorised the Glentoran defence, sent in a low cross which found McHugh in space, but he failed to control and the chance was lost.

However, three minutes later Stephen Kenny's side secured the points when a powerful McGinn shot was parried by Glens keeper Elliott Morris but Farren was on hand to tap the rebound home from point-blank range.

Derry City - Doherty; McGlynn, Delaney, Hutton (McChrystal, 79 mins.), Gray; McHugh, Deery, Higgins, McGinn (Dennehy, 88 mins.); Morrow (McCallion, 83 mins.), Farren.

Glentoran - Morris; Simpson, Leeman, Ward, Black (Hill, 64 mins.); McGovern (Boyce, 76 mins.), Fitzgerald, McCabe, Neill (Fordyce, 56 mins.); Waterworth, Halliday.

Referee - Mr. I. Stokes (Dublin).