The holders of the EA Sports Cup cruised into the quarter-finals following a routine 3-0 victory over the First Division's Longford Town at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium. Goals from Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe, Eoghan Stokes and Gerardo Bruna secured
The holders of the EA Sports Cup cruised into the quarter-finals following a routine 3-0 victory over the First Division's Longford Town at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
Goals from Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe, Eoghan Stokes and Gerardo Bruna secured a convincing victory for the much-changed Derry City side on Foyleside. The tie started at a pedestrian pace as Longford Town struggled to get a foothold in the game.
City, on the other hand, were enforcing themselves on the visitors at will, flirting with the counter-attack time and time again in the opening stages. The Lone Moor Road side registered their first goal after 19 minutes when Jamie McDonagh's hoist cross found Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe who brilliantly nodded home.
Neale Fenn's side responded well, however, getting the ball forward to Jamie Doyle but Eoin Toal and Josh Kerr, getting his first start in six games, did well to isolate the big centre-forward for much of the contest.
But Town's resolve was broke again before the interval by another well-worked City goal. The dynamic Eoghan Stokes getting on the scoresheet, his sublime effort sailing beyond Jack Menton into the top corner from 25-yards.
For all the dominance exuberated in the first half for the home side, the opening period of the second was pretty error strew. However, after the hour mark Derry started to turn the screw, Ogedi-Uzokwe, Gianni Seraf, and Gerardo Bruna all going close.
And as Menton looked as if he restored some pride in goal, his blunder, following a long-range effort, proved it all to be in vain. The former Bohs' midfielder, Stokes, caused trouble for the Town stopper from 30-yards.
Menton spilling what should have been a comprehensive save but Gerardo Bruna didn't hesitate when given the chance from three-yards.
