Bray knock Pats off top spot

Bray Wanderers 3 St. Patrick’s Athletic 2

Wily Pat Devlin worked the oracle for Bray to begin his third stint as boss as the bottom side beat the leader to knock them off the top of the table.

Bray stunned Pete Mahon's Saints to take the lead on nine minutes.

Former Saint Gary Dempsey threaded the ball through to in-from striker Shane O’Neill who drilled past Gary Rogers for his fourth league goal of the season.

But Pat’s were level within two minutes when striker Danny North followed up to score after David McAllister’s header was only parried by keeper Matt Gregg.

Bray punished sloppy defending to regain the lead two minutes into the second half. O'Neill's quick free-kick found John Mulroy who set up Jake Kelly to score.

Seven minutes later it was 3-1 when Kelly scored again with a terrific volley from the edge of the area after Dempsey's free-kick is only partially cleared.

North got a second goal back for Saints deep in stoppage time, but Bray held on for a morale boosting win which leaves them five points behind second bottom Drogheda.