Bray find way to put the brakes on Sligo

AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION:

The Bit O’Red named an unchanged starting line-up from their 3-0 crushing of Derry City — meaning that leading goalscorer Anthony Elding had to be content with a place on the substitutes’ bench on his return from suspension. But even his 56th-minute introduction failed to produce the spark on a frustrating night for Ian Baraclough’s champions.

The Seagulls could have fallen behind in the seventh minute. Eoin Hyland’s clearance clearly struck a Sligo man on its way out, but linesman Lee Bevans awarded the throw-in to the visitors. Sligo took it quickly and worked it into lone striker Aaron Greene, who laid it off to David Cawley, but the midfielder’s late run didn’t yield a goal as he bent his effort wide.

Hyland failed to complete the full 90 minutes though, as he ended his night in the hospital thanks to a finger injury suffered on the stroke of half time.

The home side threatened a lightning start to the second period when Jason Byrne teed up Dean Zambra on the edge of the area, but the midfielder’s low effort skidded wide of Gary Rogers’ goal.

Joseph N’do’s mastery almost created the opener on 54 minutes. Ross Gaynor’s corner was nodded out to N’do and the Cameroonian found Gaynor again with a magnificent pass. His in-swinging cross was flicked on by the head of Lee Lynch, but finished on the roof of the net.

Lynch managed to hit the target with his next effort on goal, but his 66th-minute drive was straight down the throat of Quigley, who safely dealt with the threat.

John Mulroy could have really ruined Sligo’s evening when he and Waters countered late on, but Mulroy completely fluffed his shot, much to Rovers’ relief.

Sligo Rovers fans did find reason to celebrate at the final whistle though, as news filtered through that title rivals Derry City had lost to UCD.

BRAY WANDERERS: Quigley; Hyland (Doyle 45), Webster, S O’Connor, Earley; Akinade, Zambra, Dempsey, Waters; Mulroy; Byrne (Hurley 90).

SLIGO ROVERS: Rogers; Keane, Peers, McMillan, Davoren (Cretaro 66); Millien (Elding 56), Cawley, N’do, Gaynor; Lynch; Greene.

Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).