League of Ireland Premier Division/ Bray Wanderers 2 Waterford Utd 1:Well-taken goals from Stephen Fox and Andrei Georgescu early in each half earned Bray victory and with it a six-point cushion over Waterford who are now rooted to the play-off spot second from bottom.
Eddie Gormley's Wanderers were rarely in any real trouble as they bounced back well from their 4-1 defeat at Drogheda United midweek. Positive from the start, they were in front on six minutes when Fox wasn't picked up from Alan Cawley's corner and the big striker planted a firm header past Dean Delaney.
Waterford had a little spell of possession midway through the first half without really threatening Steve Williams' goal and it was Bray who should have doubled their lead on 37 minutes; Paul Caffrey skilfully creating the opening before shooting against the crossbar. There was no such reprieve for the flat-footed Waterford defence seven minutes after the break, though, as Bray scored their second.
Georgescu skipped through on to Gary McCabe's pass and showed good composure to shoot past Delaney.
Waterford looked dispirited at that stage, but they got a lifeline on 74 minutes. A neat passing movement resulted in Daryl Kavanagh getting in a shot which Williams could only parry and Vinny Sullivan tapped home the loose ball.
Bray remained the better side, though, and Cawley was just wide with a terrific volley minutes later as they finished the stronger.
BRAY WANDERERS: Williams; Tresson (Gough, 45 mins, first half), Delaney, Deans, Cronin; Caffrey (Hurley, 67 mins), Cawley, Duggan, McCabe; Fox, Georgescu.
WATERFORD UNITED: Delaney; Flynn, Breen, Browne, Hedderman; Mulcahy (Keely, 86 mins), McCarthy (Kavanagh, 19 mins), Warren, Harte; Sullivan, Brosnan (Scully, 59 mins).
Referee: Paul Tuite(Dublin).
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