Derry C 1 Bray W 1:BRAY WANDERERS severely dented Derry City's title hopes following the northern club's second successive draw on home soil, the Candystripes struggling at the Brandywell last night.

With Bray opting for safety in numbers by stretching five players across the midfield area, the home side huffed and puffed but failed to penetrate and that led to a frustrating night for home fans.

Indeed, the only threat on the Bray goal centred on a powerful Stewart Greacen shot which was directed at goalkeeper, Darren Quigley, in the 39th minute.

One minute later and the big Brandywell crowd was silenced when Bray moved into the driving seat following a Derry own goal.

Gary Dempsey floated over a corner from the right and with goalkeeper, Gerard Doherty, opting to remain on his line, the unfortunate Ruaidhri Higgins headed into his own net.

Derry continued to press and in the 56th minute a Ryan McBride downward header was deflected over the Bray crossbar by a defender.

And from the subsequent corner, Patrick McEleney blazed his effort high over the crossbar when he should have done better.

However, Derry’s persistence finally paid off in the 74th minute when substitute, Emmet Friars brought his side back into the game.

Following a throw-in on the right by Ruairí Harkin the ball was worked into the defender who let fly from 25 yards, the ball crashing into the net giving Quigley no chance.

The home side continued to pour players forward and both Stephen McLaughlin and Eamon Zayed should have put Derry in front within the space of a few minutes, but both failed to hit the target from close range.

DERRY CITY: Doherty; McCallion (Harkin, 9), Greacen, McBride (Friars, 65), Lafferty; McEleney (Farren, 63), Deery, Higgins, McLaughlin; McGlynn; Zayed.

BRAY WANDERERS: Quigley; Doyle, Shields, Mitchell, Massey; Mulroy, O’Connor, Zambra, Dempsey, Kelly (Knight, 90); Murphy.

Referee: D Tomney (Dublin).