Drogheda United 2 Bray Wanderers 0:DROGHEDA UNITED confirmed their Premier Division status for another season with this comfortable victory. Bray never got going on the night.
Despite their dominance it took the home side an hour to make their superiority tell on the scoreboard when James Chambers broke the deadlock with a superb free-kick.
United made the game safe in the closing stages when Brian King was in the right place at the right time to send the large United Park crowd wild with delight.
The game almost produced the most dramatic of starts from the kick-off as Robbie Martin raced clear but goalkeeper Chris O’Connor was smartly out to smother the ball at the striker’s feet.
Minutes later Martin was involved once more when he cushioned the ball to Ross Gaynor who saw his attempted lob gathered by O’Connor.
The home side continued to push and O’Connor was called into action again when he got down well to save a fine strike from Chambers.
But Bray, against the run of play, should have hit the front when Ian Tuohy found himself in the clear with only Paul Skinner to beat, however, between his own hesitation and the goalkeeper pushing him wide the chance went a begging.
The opening exchanges of the second half left a lot to be desired as Bray fell deep and Drogheda were unable to capitalise.
That all changed on the hour when Eric McGill was taken down on the edge of the box by John Mulroy who was booked. From the free, Chambers whipped the ball round the wall to the bottom corner of the net.
Drogheda sealed the win and their place in the top flight for next season eight minutes from time when Guy Bates ghosted past a couple of challenges out on the right before sliding the ball through to Gaynor, whose shot came back off the post to King who rattled the ball home.
DROGHEDA UTD: Skinner, Chambers, Clarke, Kenna, McNally, Crowley, B McGill, E McGill (Shiels 88), Martin (Bates 60), Gaynor, King.
BRAY: O’Connor, Pender, Cronin, Deans, Mulcahy, Shields (Brennan 42), Doyle, Mulroy, Flood (Kelly 70), Tuohy (McCabe 73). Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).
