 Derry eased through against Gretna |
Derry City reached the Uefa Cup first round with room to spare though Gretna gave a good account of themselves in a competitive contest at the Brandywell. David Graham gave Gretna an early lead with a fine long-range effort, but Mark Farren slid the equaliser beyond Alan Main shortly before the interval.
Ken Oman poked the ball home in the 69th minute after a goalmouth scramble to send Derry ahead on the evening.
Gretna sub Ryan Baldacchino scored his side's second, but Derry were through.
Black and Whites manager Rowan Alexander had gone for a three-man attack in the hope of chasing down the four-goal deficit from the first leg.
And Gretna got the early goal when a headed clearance by Darren Kelly fell straight to Graham, who belted the ball past keeper David Forde from 35 yards.
Derry broke down the right in the 37th minute, Kevin McHugh squeezing the ball inside for Barry Molloy.
His perfect through ball in turn reached Farren, who finished the move well.
An inswinging corner began the move for the second Derry goal with home substitute Gary Beckett feeding Oman, who stabbed home in the 69th minute.
Gretna forced a 77th minute equaliser when the ball fell at the feet of Baldacchino, who tucked it into the empty net.
Derry City: Forde, McCallion, Hargan, Higgins (Deery 59), McHugh (Martyn 74), Oman, McGlynn, Barry Molloy, Farren, O'Flynn (Beckett 61), Kelly.
Subs Not Used: Jennings, Delaney, McCafferty.
Goals: Farren 37, Oman 69.
Gretna: Main, Birch, Grady, Skelton, Canning, Graham, Deuchar, McGuffie (Jenkins 73), Tosh (O'Neil 53), Townsley, Granger.
Subs Not Used: Mathieson, Innes, Baldacchino, McGill, Nicholls.
Goals: Graham 17, Baldacchino 77.
Agg: (7-3)
Att: 2,850
Ref: Hendrik Senderby (Denmark).
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Interview: Derry City defender Eddie McCallion 