National League: Longford Town 0 - Derry City 1Derry City celebrated their first league victory since June last night while Longford were left downcast ahead of Sunday's FAI Cup final clash with St Patrick's Athletic.

Longford should have had this game wrapped up long before Derry grabbed an 88th minute winner.

To be fair to Derry they also had some clear goal chances, particularly early on as both Michael Holt and Gary Beckett tested Stephen O'Brien inside the opening 10 minutes.

Longford then took control and Eric Lavine had four opportunities to break the deadlock before half-time.

The best of these chances arrived in the 18th minute when he was set up by Alan Murphy but was unlucky to see his thunderbolt cannon back off Alan Gough's crossbar.

Derry improved considerably after half-time but still the game seemed to be fizzling out into a stalemate. However, the visitors had other ideas.

Victory over their bogey side was clinched when Garrett McGlynn played the ball across the face of goal and the inrushing Peter Hutton was left with the simplist of finishes - which may ease the worries of Derry's latest manager Gavin Dykes with the welcome three point.

LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien, Dillon, Prunty, McGovern, Ferguson, Keogh, Alan Murphy, Perth, Lavine, Kelly, Byrne. Subs: Sheridan for Keogh half-time; Barrett for Byrne (65); Adrian Murphy for Kelly (80).

DERRY CITY: Gough, McCallion, Hargan, Hutton, McLaughlin, Doherty, McGlynn, Friars, Cleary, Beckett, Holt. Subs: Farren for Holt (83); Derry for Beckett (90).

Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford).