Sligo keep a premier option open

The destiny of both these teams might still hang in the balance but Sligo Rovers gained a significant edge with this narrow victory over Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds last night.

There are still five teams with relegation worries and with just two games remaining Bray now drop to second from bottom. They must win away to Waterford on Sunday if they are to remain a Premier Division side going into next month's FAI Cup final.

Sligo gained the advantage two minutes into the second half when Mark Hutchinson directed a perfect corner towards Jim Sheridan, and his low header sent the ball just inside the far post.

After a sleepy first performance Bray manager Pat Devlin was forced in to some significant reorganisation. John Ryan and Glen Brien were brought on to improve matters up front and they almost made an immediate impact when Brien's cross to Ryan was cleared off the line. Bray finally managed to equalise after 61 minutes when Dom Tierney's long range free was flicked-on by Brien into the path of Mick Doohan who beat Sligo goalkeeper Matthew Boswell. For a short period Bray managed to hold their own but the ever threatening John Hoeks moved in for the Sligo winner after 70 minutes. After a quick one-two with Steve Birks Hoeks scored with a powerful strike that flew straight into the corner. Hoeks and Conor O'Grady had a couple of more opportunities to extend the Sligo lead but they fell just short. Bray's woes were heightened with the sending off of Glen Brien two minutes from time and a late free from Colm Tresson, coming after Sligo also lost Ross McGlynn, was never going to bring them back.

There was an ugly conclusion to the match as tempers flared and linesman Hugo Whoriskey was hit on the head by a stone thrown from the crowd.

BRAY WANDERERS: Walsh; Tresson, Keogh, Lynch, Doohan, Gifford, Tierney, O'Connor, O'Brien, Fox, Coyle. Subs: Ryan for O'Brien and Brien for Coyle (both 55 mins); O'Brien for O'Connor 75 mins.

SLIGO: Boswell; McGlynn, Hutchinson, O'Grady, Charles, Sheridan, Kennedy, Birks, Hallows, Hoeks, Lynch.

Referee: T Tully (Cork).