Bray win eases relegation fears

Bray Wanderers 2 Dundalk 0

A first senior goal for Derek Prendergast helped earn Bray a third win in four league games to move them four points clear of the bottom of the table and the automatic relegation spot.

Resurgent Bray put their FAI Ford Cup quarter-final defeat to Bohemians firmly behind them as they came at Dundalk from the off and were deservedly a goal to the good on 18 minutes.

Midfielder Gary Dempsey put over a deep corner from the left and central defender defender Prendergast rose at the back post to head home.

Bray might have gone in 2-0 up at the interval but for a terrific save from Dundalk keeper Peter Cherrie who diverted Shane O'Neill's close-range effort from Chris Shields' cross onto his cross bar.

O'Neill wasn't to be denied, though, as he doubled Bray's lead ten minutes into the second half with a low left-foot finish from 12 yards after good approach play by Danny O'Connnor, John Mulroy and Shields.

The only blot on the night for Bray was the dismissal on 85 minutes of left-back Sean Houston for a foul on Daniel Kearns, his second booking. But ex-Dundalk keeper Matt Gregg dived to his left to save Matthew Tipton's resultant penalty.