LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION Bohemians 2 Bray Wanderers 1:THEY'RE NOT there yet, but they're getting there, and Bohemians are showing all the efficiency of a good train service by timing their run to pick up the League of Ireland trophy at its current home in United Park, Drogheda, next Friday night.
St Patrick's Athletic's win in Donegal means the inevitable has been delayed for seven days, but the players and fans of the Phibsboro club will relish next week's trip up the M1 after maintaining their 19-point lead at Dalymount Park.
Glen Crowe has scored more goals than any Bohemian, and it was he who opened the scoring, capitalising on a slack header from Bray captain Ray Kenny to steal in and expertly shoot past Alan Gough on 17 minutes.
This came after a strong start from the away team. Eddie Gormley's men had three early chances, the best when Ger Rowe charged down Brian Murphy's clearance and was unlucky to see the ball drift wide, allowing the goalkeeper to clear.
The champions-elect weren't having an off night, however, just a slow start, and, having warmed up with Crowe's goal, they took control and dominated their less illustrious opponents.
By the time Jason McGuinness had nabbed the second goal in first-half injury-time, Bray's defenders were utterly bewildered by a barrage of constant attacking.
Former Wanderer Jason Byrne, on as an early substitute, must have wondered what he had to do to score after a succession of gilt-edged chances fell his way only to be thwarted by goalkeeper and defenders alike.
With Mindaugus Kalonas running riot on the right, Byrne was tormenting his opponents, and though his first touch let him down from the Lithuanian's pass on 21 minutes he still got his shot away and Gough did well to save and recover to deny Crowe after Byrne had chased down the ball.
It was Kevin Doherty's turn to get in the way on 38 minutes, when the striker pounced on his poor clearance before Gough's reactions denied him from the rebound on 41.
It wasn't a goal, but Byrne got some reward on the stroke of half-time with an assist for McGuinness's goal. The big centre half made the most of the absence of his opposite number Kevin Doherty, off injured, to rise highest to meet Byrne's perfect cross from a corner.
The Dalymount Park crowd are used to clean sheets these days, but on 61 minutes, after a quiet opening to the half, there was a shock for the home faithful.
Phillip Knight, a half-time substitute, hooked Alan Cawley's free-kick goalward and Kenny was on hand to knock home.
It wasn't plain sailing after that, McGuinness almost cancelling out his own strike by turning a shot into his net with 17 minutes left.
However, after Bray's Daryl Robson was dismissed for a second booking on 80 minutes, Bohemians settled and it's all aboard the title train to Drogheda.
BOHEMIANS:B Murphy; Heary, Burns, McGuinness, Rossiter; Kalonas, O'Donnell, Deegan (Cronin, 76 mins), Brennan (A Murphy, 81 mins); Fenn (Byrne, 6 mins), Crowe.
BRAY WANDERERS:Gough; Whelan, Doherty (Tresson, 45 mins), Kenny, Cronin (Knight, 45 mins); Duggan, Cawley, Robson, Kavanagh (Myler, 74 mins); Kelly, Rowe.
Referee:H Whoriskey (Meath)
