Bray take point in dull draw

Bray Wanderers maintained pole position in League Cup Group E after a less than inspiring scoreless draw at Dalymount Park last night.

The well-organised Bray team had the better of the opening half, with Alan Smyth forcing Michael Dempsey into a good save in only the second minute, while Jason Byrne headed a foot over the crossbar from Graham Cassin's corner seven minutes later.

Bohemians gradually got into the game to control it until halftime. New Zealander Raffaele De Gregorio, their inspiration in their defeat of Shamrock Rovers last Friday, impressed again, most notably with a weaving run past several defenders before shooting wide on 13 minutes.

Bray then had to defend frantically on 23 minutes when goalkeeper Alan Kane failed to collect a Brian Mooney cross. Barry O'Connor eventually cleared off the line from Eoin Mullen's shot.

Encouraged by Byrne shooting just over the top within minutes of the re-start, Bray enjoyed their best spell of the match.

But, as in the first half, Bohemians slowly came back, though they didn't get their first shot on target until the 74th minute when Tommy Byrne drove the ball straight at Kane from 18 yards.

Bohemians: Dempsey; O'Hanlon, Broughan, O'Connor, Brunton; Mooney, Byrne, Doolin, De Gregorio, Mullen; Lawlor. Subs: Best for Mooney (at half-time); Place for Mullen (55 mins); Hall for Lawlor (82 mins).

Bray Wanderers: Kane; Tresson, McKeever, Lynch, Keogh; P O'Brien, O'Connor, Smyth, Cassin; Ryan, Byrne. Subs: Kenny for Lynch (55 mins); Fox for Ryan (73 mins); Dodd for Cassin (81 mins).

Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford).