Bray Wanderers 1 Shamrock Rovers 0: BRAY WANDERERS got back on the winning track when an early goal by winger Mark Duggan gave them victory over an injury-ravaged Shamrock Rovers in a tense Premier Division clash at the Carlisle Grounds last night.

These are worrying times for Hoops boss Pat Scully. That is now 11 competitive games without a win ahead of next week's FAI Cup third round tie against Sligo Rovers.

Bray, without a win in their previous three games, had the perfect start when Duggan had them in front after just three minutes.

An Alan Cawley corner on the left allowed Derek Pender to get in a cross not properly cleared by the Rovers defence. Duggan was able to collect the ball and shoot from 19 yards with the ball taking a wicked deflection.

Veteran Bray goalkeeper Alan Gough twice denied Rovers striker Pádraig Almond when first holding a long range effort and then parrying another close range shot. But Almond was then guilty of a dreadful miss on 22 minutes after a defence-splitting pass from Alan Murphy. Almond fired past the advancing Gough only to see his effort strike the upright and eventually wide of the target.

The Hoops were in the ascendency in the second period but the resolute defensive play of Derek Foran and Kevin Doherty added to some excellent handling by Gough kept Bray in the driving seat.

BRAY WANDERERS: Gough; Ivory, Doherty, Pender; Kavanagh (Dunphy, 76 mins), Cawley, Whelan, Duggan; Onwubiko (Georgescu, 69 mins), Rowe.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: B Murphy (Coleman, 45 mins); Tracey, D.O'Connor, Ferguson, Langtry (Doyle, 67 mins); S O'Connor, A.Murphy, McGill, Tyrrell (O'Brien, 63 mins); Purcell, Almond.

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).