Bray hold on for vital away point

Dundalk 0 Bray Wanderers 0: DUNDALK WERE held to their first scoreless draw at Oriel Park for 16 months as Bray Wanderers held on for a priceless point at the Louth venue last night.

The home side came into the game off the back of a thrilling comeback win in Sligo on Saturday night and they had a great chance to pull ahead after just 90 seconds.

Darren Mansaram picked out Chris Turner but Dundalk’s leading scorer blazed over from close range.

After some stubborn Bray resistance, Seán Connor’s side took complete control of the game.

Alex Williams’ sweetly struck effort went the wrong side of the post in the 20th minute before the Scottish striker had a goal ruled out for offside on the half-hour mark. Then Tiarnan Mulvenna hit the angle of post and bar with a delicate chip four minutes later as the Bray back four started to wilt.

It was Paul McAreavey’s turn next as he beat goalkeeper Chris O’Connor with a clever toe-poke but the Bray goalkeeper was relieved to see Chris Deans covering on the line.

Referee Tommy Connolly handed Dundalk the initiative right on the stroke of half-time when he adjudged Daire Doyle to have impeded Darren Mansaram in the box.

Turner stepped up to take the spot kick but O’Connor did well to save low down to his right much to the delight of his team-mates.

The second half proved a dull affair with McAreavey going close with a glancing header just after half-time. However, Bray almost shocked the home crowd in the 67th minute when Gary McCabe scampered past three defenders before firing over.

Alex Williams almost won the points late on for Dundalk but his volley cracked off the inside of the post.

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Coburn, Burns, Simon Kelly, McGowan; Daly (Collins, 61 mins), Turner, McAreavey, Mulvenna (McKinlay, 76 mins); Mansaram, Williams.

BRAY WANDERERS: O'Connor; Doyle, Webster, Deans, Pender; Coughlan (Massey, 61 mins), Mulcahy, Shields, McCabe; Flood (Ian McNeill, 75 mins), O'Neill (Gilroy, 56 mins).

Referee: Tom Connolly(Dublin)