Bray on a roll as Quigley’s clanger sinks Drogheda

AN own-goal by skipper-for-the-night Stephen Quigley’s settled this dour contest at Hunky Dorys Park as Bray Wanderers continued their remarkable Premier Division run.

A loss of concentration in the home defence resulted in the first chance of the game as Gary Dempsey’s quickly taken corner picked out Danny O’Connor, whose firm downward header was diverted round the post by Drogheda keeper Stephen Trimble.

Bray broke the deadlock on 33 minutes when Danny O’Connor played the ball wide to Daire Doyle in space and his cross was deflected in off the boot of Quigley despite the efforts of team-mate Victor Ekanem to stop the ball on the line.

Drogheda responded with a brilliant move involving McNamara and Dinny Corcoran, who twice exchanged passes before the latter drove a shot narrowly wide.

The early stages of the second-half mirrored those of the first as goalmouth action was at a premium, with a wayward Danny O’Connor shot the only attempt of note.

Drogheda were forced to commit more men forward as time began to tick down, and the Seagulls nearly exposed them on 79 minutes when Dempsey’s pass picked out substitute Dane Massey, who drove the ball narrowly wide.

But the Seagulls nearly paid for their failure to kill off the game when McNamara’s 25-yard shot was blocked behind by Adam Mitchell and McNamara’s resulting corner was headed just wide by Alan McNally.

Right at the death Ekanem volleyed Drogheda’s last chance narrowly over the bar.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Trimble; C O’Brien, McNally, Ekanem, Quigley; M O’Brien, Gannon, McCrossan (Freeman 72), McNamara; Hanaphy, Corcoran.

BRAY WANDERERS: Gregg; S O’Connor, Mitchell, Prendergast, Kendrick; Doyle, D O’Connor, Shields, Dempsey, Houston (Massey 69); O’Neill (McGuinness 75).

Referee: P McLaughlin (Monaghan).