Advantage Derry
Derry City beat 10-man Aberystwyth Town 4-0 in the first leg of their Europa League first round qualifying tie at Brandywell Stadium, a record home European win for the League of Ireland Premier Division side.Derry were ahead on 14 minutes through Patrick McEleney, before the key moment of the game when Seasiders goalkeeper Mike Lewis was sent off for bringing down Rory Patterson on 25 minutes.Patterson took the spot-kick himself to beat replacement goalkeeper Phil Draper, and after that it was damage limitation for the Welsh Premier League side.Mark Timlim (48) made it 3-0 with a speculative effort at the start of the second half, before some good stops from Draper frustrated the Candystripes, who eventually wrapped things up with four minutes left through Barry McNamee.Danske Bank Premiership side Linfield secured a 2-1 victory over B36 Torshavn in the Faroe Islands with a late winner from Michael Carvill.The Blues went ahead on 38 minutes with a 20-yard effort from midfielder Jamie Mulgrew, but the hosts were level on 72 minutes when Nigerian born striker Adeshina Lawal headed in a free-kick.Linfield, though, were not be denied. With just two minutes left, former Charlton and Wrexham forward Carvill bundled the ball in from close range to give Warren Feeney's men every chance of progress through from the second leg at Glenavon's Mourneview Park.Crusaders also recorded a comfortable first leg win as they beat FK Ekranas of Lithuania 3-1 at Seaview.The Belfast side were ahead on 23 minutes through Stephen Cockcroft, with Jordan Owens (43) adding a second just before half-time when he headed in following a mistake by the visiting goalkeeper.Hatchetmen captain Colin Coates made it 3-0 on 58 minutes, before Aleksandar Susnjar (88) reduced the arrears late on.Airbus UK were held to a 1-1 draw by Norwegian side FK Haugesund at Bangor City's Nantporth.Jordan Johnson (29) put the Wingmakers ahead when he converted a cross from Chris Budrys, but the visitors were level just before the break.Brazilian Daniel Bamberg (43) netted what could prove to be a crucial away goal, with a second-half effort from Johnson ruled out for offside.Northern Ireland side Sligo battled to a goalless draw against Banga of Lithuania, with John Coleman's men hopeful of a positive result in front of home support at The Showgrounds.However, Welsh Premier League Bangor City's hopes of progress are all but over following a 4-0 defeat to Stjarnan in Iceland.The home side went ahead through a penalty from Olafur Karl Finsen on 13 minutes after Anthony Miley fouled Vemmelund.Before the visitors could regroup, Veigar Gunnarsson (16) had made it 2-0.Finsen (54) scored again at the start of the second half, with Arnar Bjorgvinsson (70) wrapping things up before Bangor's miserable night was completed by a red card for Sam Hart.Northern Irish side Glenavon were also in Iceland, and were hit by a late flurry from FH Hafnarfjordur, who won 3-0.Ingimundur Niels Oskarsson (82) finally broke the brave resistance of the Lurgan Blues with eight minutes left before Atli Gudnason scored a brace in stoppage time.
