Faroe Islands feel Northern Ireland's force

• Defender Gareth McAuley gets early opener for Northern Ireland
• Kyle Lafferty steals in to score stylish second
• Roy Carroll then saves Fródi Benjaminsen's penalty 
• Six points from two Group F games for Michael O'Neill's men
• Next games: Greece v Northern Ireland, Faroe Islands v Hungary (Tuesday)

Northern Ireland scored twice inside 21 minutes against the Faroe Islands in UEFA EURO 2016 Group F as the Faroe Islands were kept busy in Belfast.

Defender Gareth McAuley finished at the far post on six minutes after Chris Baird flicked Oliver Norwood's corner into his path, and Northern Ireland kept up the pace with Kyle Lafferty stealing in front of Faroese goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen to flick in from Shane Ferguson's curling ball on 21 minutes. Nielsen then produced a terrific save to keep out a Lafferty header – the Norwich City FC striker enjoying the game enough to give the goalkeeper a congratulatory hug aftewards.

Lafferty flashed a header wide not long afterwards, but Ferguson's tug on Jóan Edmundsson at the other end gave the visitors an unexpected chance to reduce the arrears. Captain Fródi Benjaminsen struck his penalty towards the corner, but the 37-year-old Roy Carroll flung himself to the left and pushed the ball against the post. Nielsen did his best to respond in kind, punching a swerving Norwood punt over just before the break.

The only small cloud on the horizon for Michael O'Neill's side as they reflect on their six Group F points so far is that they failed to score more in the second half. They kept the Faroese penned inside their half, Jamie Ward and Lafferty going close, while Connor McLaughlin was guilty of missing the target from a brilliant position.