NORTHERN IRELAND 4 - 0 San Marino

NORTHERN Ireland got their World Cup campaign back on track with a morale boosting four goal defeat of minnows San Marino at Windsor Park.

And what will be most pleasing to manager Nigel Worthington will be the fact that the goals were shared amongst the squad rather than depending on Nationwide man-of-the-match David Healy.

But it was Healy's 35th international goal that settled Northern Ireland's nerves after a lacklustre opening half-an-hour or so at Windsor Park.

He squeezed the ball below San Marino 'keeper Federico Valentini from around eight yards after George McCartney had delivered the ball from the left flank.

And Healy was involved again in the second just a couple of minutes from the break. Grant McCann blasted a left-foot drive beyond Valentini from the edge of the area after Healy had knocked the ball back when it looked as if the moment had passed.

Then it was Laffery's turn to get his name on the scoresheet when he was on hand to slot home the rebound after Healy had saw an effort palmed away by Valentini on 56 minutes.

San Marino's night went from bad to worse nine minutes later following Mauro Marani's dismissal for hitting out at Michael O'Connor while the pair lay on the ground following a tussle.

Buoyed by this Northern Ireland turned their numerical advantage into another goal on 75 minutes when Davis knocked the ball home after Lafferty beat the offside trap to cross from the right.