AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION Sporting Fingal 1 Bray Wanderers 0:A FIRST goal of the season from Shane McFaul won the three points for Sporting Fingal to move them third in the table.

But in truth poor finishing and the woodwork let the home side’s improvised defence off the hook at Morton Stadium.

With five defenders unavailable, Sporting reshuffled their back four with midfielder Kevin Dawson playing right-back and Shaun Williams skippering the side from central defence alongside usual right-back Ger O’Brien.

Admirably, bottom side Bray had come to play and responded with Dave Webster firing a 25-yard free kick not too far wide 10 minutes later.

Webster, however, would play an unwitting role in Sporting’s lead goal on 25 minutes when deflecting a shot from Ronan Finn out for a corner.

McFaul was left unattended at the near post and neatly back-headed a flick home. ,

Bray almost levelled within two minutes of the restart when they caught Sporting asleep at the back. Jake Kelly flicked on Shane O’Connor’s long free kick and Robbie Doyle’s low drive forced a good save from Darren Quigley.

Winger Ian Tuohy then blazed over the top when left totally unmarked from David Tyrrell’s cross three minutes later.

Sporting upped the tempo late on and had chances to put some gloss on their win which they didn’t avail of.

SPORTING FINGAL:Quigley; Dawson, O'Brien, Williams, Fitzgerald; Finn, McFaul, Kirby; C Byrne, Crowe (O'Neill, 85 mins), Zayed (Quinn, 66 mins).

BRAY WANDERERS:Kane; S. O'Connor, Tresson, Webster, Massey; Tuohy (A O'Connor, 79 mins), Brennan (O'Brien, 79 mins), Shields, Tyrrell (Georgescu, 86 mins); Kelly, R Doyle.

Referee: T Connolly(Dublin).