PREMIER DIVISION - Derry City 2 Longford Town 2: Derry City face a long and difficult season if last night's performance against Longford Town is anything to go by.

After the home side had taken an early lead, Longford bounced back with three goals during an 11-minute spell, and those goals were the result of a defensive collapse.

Eamonn Doherty played a captain's role in the fourth minute when driving Derry into the lead with a shot from 25 yards.

But the visitors hit back within three minutes when Derry's new goalkeeper Andy Petterson flapped at a free-kick before Longford's Barry Ferguson pounced to hook the ball into the net.

In the ninth minute Longford moved in front when the home side failed to clear their lines and Eric Lavine struck the loose ball home from 12 yards.

Longford went further ahead in the 17th minute when young Derry defender Kevin Deery attempted to dribble the ball out of his penalty area. Alan Kirby took full advantage when dispossessing the teenager before giving Petterson no chance.

After the break Derry continued to struggle and Eddie McCallion was forced to whip the ball off their goalline after Paddy McLaughlin and Petterson got into a tangle.

The home side's woes were compounded in the 78th minute when Gary Beckett was sent off for an off-the-ball incident involving Ferguson.

The home side put some respectability on the scoreboard two minutes into injury time when substitute Gareth McGlynn scored after Padraig Moran had set him up.

DERRY CITY: Petterson, E McCallion, Hargan, Deery, McLaughlin, Doherty, Martyn, Moran, Beckett, McBride, Friars. Subs: McGlynn for Martyn (35 mins), Coyle for Deery (53 mins), T McCallion for McBride (65 mins).

LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien, Dillon, John, Foley, Ferguson, Byrne, Kirby, Sheridan, Lavine, Francis, Keogh. Subs: Prunty for Keogh (56 mins), Barrett for Lavine (80 mins).

Referee: I Stokes (Dublin).