Bray battle to end the champions' unbeaten run

SOCCER: AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION: Shamrock Rovers 0 Bray Wanderers 1:BRAY MIDFIELDER Danny O'Connor scored the only goal of the game at Tallaght Stadium last night as Shamrock Rovers fell to their first defeat of the new season despite the home side having the bulk of possession throughout.

If Rovers expected an easy night, they were rudely awakened after just six minutes when O’Connor gave the visitors a shock lead. Gary Dempsey played a penetrating ball forward to lone striker Conor Murphy whose square pass found O’Connor 18 yards out.

His first-time strike sailed past Alan Mannus and inside his right-hand post, to stun the home faithful at the west Dublin venue.

However the Hoops took this setback in their stride and Bray were forced to defend for long stretches. But with Derek Prendergast superb at the heart of the visitors’ back line, Rovers found it increasingly difficult to carve out real chances.

Losing Gary Twigg to an injury shortly before the break hardly helped matters but an early chance for the striker, which he side-footed wide when well-placed, and a trademark 25-yard drive from Ronan Finn, that whistled over on 43 minutes, were all that Rovers had to show for their efforts in the opening half.

The second half began with the home side similarly dominant but still lacking the cutting edge needed to prise open Bray’s resolute defence. Gary O’Neill had a volley blocked at close range and pressure remained constant as substitute Karl Sheppard raided down the right and Finn surged through from central midfield. But Rovers’ first shot on target came only in the 71st minute when a Dennehy free was palmed away by debutant goalkeeper Darren Quigley.

Substitute Dean Kelly headed inches wide for Rovers as the final stages loomed and Adam Mitchell skewed a clearance over his own bar, Ken Oman heading over from the resulting corner.

But there was to be no reprieve and Pat Devlin’s battling side held on through four minutes of added time to inflict a first defeat of the season on the frustrated Hoops.

SHAMROCK ROVERS:Mannus; Sullivan, Murray, Oman, Stevens; McCabe (Sheppard, 57), Finn, Rice, Dennehy; Twigg (G O'Neill, 37), Kilduff (D Kelly, 75).

BRAY WANDERERS: Quigley; Webster, Prendergast, Mitchell, Massey; Zambra, Dempsey, D O'Connor (G Kelly, 50), Shields, J Kelly; Murphy (Mulroy, 75).

Referee: D Tomney (Dublin)