Derry City 2 Glentoran 0: DERRY CITY took a big step towards the semi-finals with a deserved victory at the Brandywell last night.

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

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

Full-back Johnny Black flashed a free-kick at the target after three minutes, and Derry goalkeeper Gerard Doherty had to be alert to get down to parry the ball wide.

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 defence, and when his low centre was missed by Clive Delaney, the well placed Michael Halliday could only direct his shot into the hands of Doherty from eight yards.

In the 31st minute, Mark Farren raced in on the blind side but the Derry striker recklessly poked his shot wide.

However, four minutes later Derry got the opener 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 wall.

Derry remained in the ascendancy to the break with Kevin McHugh driving two efforts narrowly wide.

The home side continued to dominate after the break with Sammy Morrow and Niall McGinn blasting efforts over the top.

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 sent in a low cross which found McHugh in space, but he failed to control and the chance was lost.

Three minutes later Stephen Kenny's side secured the points when a powerful McGinn shot was parried by goalkeeper Elliott Morris, but Farren was on hand to tap in the rebound.

DERRY CITY: Doherty; McGlynn, Delaney, Hutton (McChrystal, 79 min), Gray; McHugh, Deery, Higgins, McGinn (Dennehy, 88 min); Morrow (McCallion, 83 min), Farren.

GLENTORAN: Morris; Simpson, Leeman, Ward, Black (Hill, 64 min); McGovern (Boyce, 76 min), Fitzgerald, McCabe, Neill (Fordyce, 56 min); Waterworth, Halliday.

Referee: I Stokes (Dublin).