Derry City 1 - 0 Skonto Riga (agg. 2-1)

Derry City are heading for Sofia next week after Kevin Deery's 56th minute goal sealed a one-nil win over Skonto Rega at The Brandywell tonight, cementing the Foylesiders' place in the next round of the Europa League.

On another famous European night at the old ground, Stephen Kenny's team held off the challenge of the Latvians to tee up a two-legged affair with Bulgarian outfit, CSKA Sofia. Deery picked out the far corner eleven minutes into the second-half, when he beat the static Germans Malins from 30 yards. Tam McManus' 44th minute goal in Riga seven days ago had given the Candystripes a real advantage in the tie and a huge shot in the arm towards advancement towards the next round - and tonight, Deery capped off a good night at the office for the hosts with something of an opportunistic winner.

Gerard Doherty in goals pulled off a couple of good saves in the first-half, but by and large the Candystripes were rarely threatened as their rearguard, manned by ever-green skipper Peter Hutton, held firm. Steven Gray, who injured an ankle in Sunday's League defeat to Bohs, was replaced by veteran Eddie McCallion in one of three changes made by Stephen Kenny from leg one. Sammy Morrow and Kevin Deery came in at the expense of Ciaran Martyn and Mark Farren.

James McClean, who played 50 minutes in Dalymount on Sunday, missed out - along with long-term absentees Mark McChrystal and Liam Kearney - having come down with a virus. Skonto were dogged in the build-up with scares that four of their players, including goalscorer from last week, the Brazilian Junior Carvalho, could be refused visas by the British Embassy. When Skonto emerged to the cauldron of fire that was the Brandywell tonight, however, the South American was in tow.

Gareth McGlynn and Aleksandrs Cavna both had early half-chances before Tam McManus' lively sprint into the box rose the home support from their perches. The former Hibs striker appeared to be getting the better of Vitalijs Smirnovs when he went down under the defender's challenge, but there was a firm 'no' from Dutch referee Pol Van Boekel in answer to the penalty appeals. Raiuis Hscanovics headed clear from under the crossbar with Gareth McGlynn ghosting in around the back before Derry number one Gerard Doherty was called into action for the first time.

Doherty got down well to the base of his right-post to save from Cavna, who profited after Fetov and Kozlovs worked the chance. After McManus curled a free-kick off target, Doherty came to City's rescue again on 24 minutes when he saved well from Kristaps Blanks, who was fed by the deftest of touches by Junior on the edge of the box.

McManus kept up from where he left off a week ago by causing plenty of problems in the opening exchanges and just before the half-hour he forced Malins into tipping his 20-yard effort nervously over the crossbar. From the resulting corner, McManus was again the man on the end of it; this time it was the crossbar that came to the visitors' rescue while Sammy Morrow headed the follow-up over the bar. Skonto's Cavna then saw a teasing free-kick evade everyone in a crowded box and flew past the far post, but as the first-half ended the deadlock remained intact and it was still advantage to the Candystripes.

Eleven minutes into the second-half, that advantage grew majestically. Derry broke down an attack and Kevin Deery scampered from defence. With the Skonto players backing off, expecting a ball out to McCallion on the overlap, or a ball in behind to Stewart, the midfielder took stock and fired into the far corner from 30 yards, much to the embarrassment of 'keeper Malins.

Just eight minutes later, Deery turned provider, but Ruaidhri Higgins' volley was deflected wide from the former's corner kick, while Delaney headed over from the home side's next corner. Deery's goal was all that separated them in the end and the Red and White Army march onto Bulgaria this night week.

The win will also go a long way in helping the coffers of the Brandywell club, as another European night beckons by the shores of the Foyle.

Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Eddie McCallion, Clive Delaney, Peter Hutton, Ger O'Brien; Gareth McGlynn (David Scullion, 88), Barry Molloy, Kevin Deery, Thomas Stewart (Mark Farren, 74); Tam McManus, Sammy Morrow (Ruaidhri Higgins, 49).
Sub not used: Ciaran Martyn, Patrick Jennings, Shane McEleney, Aaron Nash.

Skonto Riga: Germans Malins; Sergejs Golubevs, Vitalijs Smirnovs, David Gamezardashuili, Raivis Hscanovics; Aleksandrs Ferlovs (Ruslan Mingazov, 65), Igors Kozlovs, Igors Tarasovs (Olegs Laizans, 65), Aleksandrs Cauna; Kristaps Blanks, Nathan Junior (Andrey Agafonov, 83).
Subs not used: Vitalijs Melnicenko, Igors Semjonovs, Deniss Petrenko, Vadims Gailis.

Referee: Pol Van Boekel (Netherlands).

Attendance: 4,500 (estimate)