Zayed swoops to edge Sligo past the Seagulls

Bray Wanderers 0 Sligo Rovers 1

A second-half goal by Libya international Eamon Zayed was enough to keep alive Sligo Rovers slim hopes of qualifying for European football next season with a narrow victory over Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds.

Bray, who have collected just one point from their last nine Premier Division games, are deep in the drop zone with a difficult assignment away to title-chasing Cork on Monday.

Bray looked threatening on eight minutes but Adam Mitchell’s effort was smothered by alert Sligo keeper Gary Rogers.

Sligo then looked dangerous and McGuinness was forced to block with his feet from an angled shot from Sean Maguire.

The Seagulls might have broken the deadlock when a Joe Gorman cross from the left was touched on by Ismahil Akinadi, only for Philip Hughes to shoot wide from 18 yards.

Sligo got their noses in front on 47 minutes when a high cross from Evan Millan was deflected off the head of Adam Mitchell to allow Zayed to turn and fire home into the corner of the net from 15 yards.

Bray did have a chance of an equaliser when a glorious ball from midfield by Graham Kelly enabled David Cassidy to get in a shot from the edge of the box only to see his effort deflected for a corner. Late on Bray had further chances only for Mitchell to see his effort glance off the bar and then Akinade head over.

BRAY WANDERERS: McGuinness; Barker (Kelly 78), Cooney, Mitchell, Gorman; O’Neill (Maloney 58), G Kelly, Cassidy, Zambra, Akinade; Hughes.

SLIGO ROVERS: Rogers; Keane, Spillane, Peers, Ledwith (Donelon 75); Maguire, Conneely, Cawley, Kavanagh (O’Conor 64); Zayed (Keating 88), McMillan.

Referee: Jim McKell (Tipperary).