An early goal from captain Mick Doohan was enough for Bray Wanderers to keep on target for a place in European football next season and plunge UCD into further relegation problems after a tense clash at the Carlisle grounds last night.
Bray wasted early opportunities. First Barry O'Connor had a shot pushed away by UCD goalkeeper Barry Ryan and then Jason Byrne's effort rebounded off the crossbar.
But the inevitable breakthrough came after nine minutes. A Byrne cross from the right was collected by Doohan, operating in an unaccustomed striker's role. He was given the time by slack marking to slip the ball past Ryan.
Bray could not translate their territorial superiority into further goals with Doohan, Byrne and O'Connor all guilty of wasting clear-cut openings early in the second half.
BRAY WANDERERS: Walsh; Gifford, Charles, Tresson, Farrell, O'Connor, Fox, Long, Keogh, Byrne, Doohan. Subs: Williamson for Doohan, 66 mins; Lynch for Charles, 80 mins.
UCD: Ryan; McLoughlin, McNally, Delaney, O'Donnell, Bennis, Kavanagh, Martyn, J Martin, O'Meara, Swann, Subs: Mooney for J Martin, 68 mins; R MArtin for O'Meara, 72 mins.
Referee: Ian Stokes (Dublin).
