Chambers earns Drogheda victory

LEAGUE OF IRELAND Bray Wanderers 1 Drogheda United 2 -JAMES CHAMBERS scored a stoppage-time winner to give this relegation battle a late twist but one which was no more than Drogheda deserved.

The win, Drogheda’s first in five games, lifts them four points clear of bottom side Bray and above Sligo Rovers overnight.

With 92 minutes gone, Ross Gaynor’s pass sent Jamie Duffy away down the right and his low cross was tapped in by midfielder Chambers.

Bray thought they had salvaged a point when Dane Massey scored on 89 minutes.

Midfielder Massey raced away onto Dave Mulcahy’s pass to blast a left-foot shot to the far corner of Steve Williams’ net.

The influential Duffy had struck for Drogheda’s deserved lead on 75 minutes. Collecting Brendan McGill’s pass on the edge of the six-yard box, the striker swivelled to his left and drilled a shot into the corner of the net.

Bray’s Daire Doyle almost levelled on 82 minutes when his stunning, 25-yard effort came back off a post, while Shane O’Neill fired the rebound wide.

Drogheda were much the better side from the start. Gaynor had an early shot held by Chris O’Connor, before Doyle and Gary Cronin had to be brave in blocking shots from Chambers and McGill.

But Bray should have been in front with their first opening on 23 minutes. Jake Kelly raced clear onto O’Connor’s long clearance to bring a terrific stop with his feet from Williams. Captain Alan McNally then did well to block Massey’s follow-up shot.

Drogheda remained the better side into the second half with Chambers having a fiercely struck free-kick deflected wide, while Gaynor forced another good save from O’Connor.

BRAY WANDERERS:O'Connor; Pender, Deans, Mulcahy, Cronin (S O'Neill, 34 mins); Shields, Brennan, Doyle, Massey; Kelly (Mulroy, 60 mins), Flood (Webster, 74 mins).

DROGHEDA UTD:Williams; Gibb, Kenna, McNally, Clarke; B McGill, Crowley (E McGill, 84 mins), Chambers, King; Gaynor, Duffy.

Referee:Anthony Buttimer (Cork).