Northern Ireland moved into second place in Group Three with this comfortable World Cup qualifying defeat of San Marino at the Stade Olimpico. The game had been in doubt due to the torrential rainfall which had affected the area earlier in the day which, coupled with the uncharacterstic snow and hail showers, had prompted the local authorities to conduct a 5pm pitch inspection.

San Marino, although the weakest team in Europe, possess something of a troublesome reputation against sides from this neck of the woods. Who can forget Davide Gualtieri's goal against England after just 8 seconds back in 1993 or, more recently, the difficulties the Republic of Ireland had in defeating tonight's hosts almost two years ago to the day? Thankfully it didn't take a 95th minute winner tonight. Nerves were settled, though, after just six minutes when Gareth McAuley fired Northern Ireland into the lead with a half volley from a Grant McCann corner.

Number two came on 32 minutes courtesy of McCann's impressive right foot from 20 yards, his third international strike. It was 3-0 on 63 minutes when a Chris Brunt free-kick, dispatched with his left foot, crept almost unnoticed into the far corner of Federico Valentini's goal.

That goal matched Northern Ireland's record World Cup away win, equalling the 3-0 defeat inflicted upon Turkey in December 1968. There were other chances, too, among them a David Healy effort into the side netting after cutting in from the right while McCann clipped the bar with a delivery from the left.

The downsides? Perhaps only the bookings picked up by Kyle Lafferty, Steve Davis and George McCartney which rules the trio out of the much more important and difficult meeting with Poland at Windsor Park late next month. They were cheap yellow cards, on reflection, but they could well prove costly as the campaign continues to unfold. For tonight at least, let's just celebrate an all too rare victory on the road.

Northern Ireland: Taylor, McAuley, Craigan, Hughes, McCartney, Johnson, McCann, Davis, Healy, Paterson, Lafferty
Substitutes: Mannus, McGivern, McGinn, McCourt, Feeney, Shiels, Brunt

San Marino: F. Valentini, C. Valentini, della Valle, D. Simoncini, Vannucci, Bacciocchi, Berretti, Muccioli, Mi. Marani, M. Vitaioli, Ma. Marani
Substitutes: A. Simoncini, F. Vitaioli, Cibelli, Casadei, Bugli, Andreini, Albani