Derry happy to settle for a point in Bray deadlock

A final late flurry at either end failed to break the deadlock as Derry City left the Carlisle Grounds the happier after this…

A final late flurry at either end failed to break the deadlock as Derry City left the Carlisle Grounds the happier after this stalemate produced chance after chance but no goals.

It was certainly a case of what might have been for both sides as the real chances went abegging in the dying minutes.

Bray keeper Matt Gregg had to make a crucial save to deprive Padraig Moran of a winner two minutes from time.

Davy Williamson's back pass fell short to let substitute Moran in, but Gregg got a slight touch to the striker's toepoke to force the ball out for a corner.

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Jason Byrne then wasted a great chance to win it for Bray in stoppage time when heading over from Eddie Gormley's free-kick.

The point keeps Derry second in the table and means that they have now lost just once in 10 games.

In a bright start by Bray, Thomas Morgan shot wide after dispossessing Tommy McCallion before Colm Tresson headed over from Gormley's cross on eight minutes as Bray took the game to Derry.

Liam Coyle provided the inspiration for Derry's first opening on 14 minutes, picking out Tommy McCallion over the top, but the midfielder rushed his effort and planted his shot well wide.

Despite Bray's dominance, it was Gregg who had to make the first real stop of the afternoon on 21 minutes after Gary Beckett was put in by Tommy McCallion.

But the acrobatics were provided by Russell Payne on the half-hour mark when Jason Byrne's overhead kick was tipped over by the alert Derry keeper.

Derry then fluffed a glorious chance to break the deadlock two minutes before the break. Gareth McGlynn was played onside from Darren Kelly's ball over the top, but the 18-year-old's lob over Gregg bounced wide of the keeper's right-hand post.

Bray began to press home their dominance throughout the second-half but couldn't find a way past the best defence in the country.

Barry O'Connor was afforded their best opening when Morgan played him in on 58 minutes. But O'Connor took the chance early and ballooned his volley high over the bar.

Payne showed terrific composure to hold a fiercely struck shot from Paul Keegan soon afterwards before Derry got bodies in the way from an Eddie Gormley corner, with Eddie McCallion getting the crucial goal-line block from O'Connor's close-range shot.

BRAY WANDERERS: Gregg; Britton, Tresson, Doohan, Farrell; O'Connor, Morgan, Gormley, Keogh; Byrne, Keegan. Subs: Forsyth for Keogh (67 mins), Williamson for O'Connor (79 mins), O'Brien for Keegan (88 mins).

DERRY CITY: Payne; McLaughlin, E. McCallion, Kelly, Hargan; McGlynn, Doherty, T McCallion, Beckett; Hughes, Coyle. Subs: Morgan for Hughes (74 mins), McCready for McGlynn (88 mins).

Referee: R O'Hanlon (Waterford).