Derry City 3-0 Longford Town
Derry City secured their first league win since April with victory over a disappointing Longford Town side at The Brandywell.
Rhys Gorman’s own goal on nine minutes and a brace from Mark Timlin ensured Peter Hutton’s side secured their first victory in 13 league games.
The home side, who completely changed their system and started in a 3-5-2 formation, and it seemed to work as they had a super chance early on.
A clever pass by Patrick McEleney sent Stephen Dooley down the right-hand side and his cross found Barry McNamee but with his weaker right foot, his effort was kept out by Town netminder Paul Hunt.
The deadlock was broken on nine minutes in somewhat fortunate circumstances when Rob Cornwall’s right-wing cross was flicked on at the near post by Patrick McEleney and the unfortunate Rhys Gorman diverted the ball into his own net.
Derry doubled their lead on 20 minutes when Mark Timlin's notched his seventh goal of the season after his long-range strike took a deflection off Mark Salmon before sailing over Hunt.
On 33 minutes a Pat Sullivan free-kick from the right found Kaleem Simon at the back post, but his header was straight at Derry keeper Gerard Doherty.
Just before half-time another quick counter-attack ended with McNamee’s delightful chip finding an unmarked Dooley, but he blazed over from close range.
Timlin was inches away from City’s third on 50 minutes but his tremendously hit free-kick from the left side of the box, which had Hunt beaten, smacked against the post.
A fantastic block by Martin Deady on 72 minutes kept the visitors in the game when he somehow kept out Dooley’s close-range shot, after McNamee’s inch-perfect pass created the chance.
Moments later a clever through ball by McEleney released Timlin, who broke the offside trap before side-footing home past Hunt.
Hunt had to make a smart save on 80 minutes when City substitute Cillian Morrison got in behind the Town defence, but his low strike was saved by the keeper.
In stoppage time a fantastic point-blank save by Doherty denied David O’Sullivan and Longford Town a consolation goal.
Derry City: Doherty, McBride, Cornwall, Barry; Dooley (Curtis 89), McCormack, Lowry, McNamee, Jarvis; McEleney (Morrison 79), Timlin (Quigley 89).
Longford Town: Hunt, Mulhall, Deady, Rice, Salmon, Shaw, Powell, Sullivan, Simon (Shannon 71), Gorman (Cowan 62), Doherty (O’Sullivan H-T).
Referee: David McKeon (Dublin).
