Bray Wanderers 0 - 0 Sligo Rovers

If Sligo Rovers fail to lift the Airtricity League trophy for the second successive season in late October, they will look back on disappointing performances like the one displayed in Friday’s 0-0 draw with struggling Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds as a key moment.

Having swiftly returned to the top of the table with an impressive victory over Derry last Monday, Ian Baraclough’s side stamped their authority on the game in the opening exchanges but failed to find the cutting edge despite dominating large periods.

And, it was the hosts who had the first sight of goal but Jason Byrne’s long-range effort ended up in the Carlisle Grounds car park rather than worrying Gary Rogers between the posts.

It didn’t take long for the Bit O’Red to respond at the other end as David Cawley latched onto Aaron Greene’s flick-on but his curling effort went narrowly wide of the far post. A similar pattern developed in the first period as Bray stuck to their game plan and didn’t give their opponents a moments piece.

With goal scoring opportunities at a premium, Lee Lynch tried his luck from long-range but his dipping effort was straight at Darren Quigley before a brilliant defensive block by David Webster denied Greene in the box.

It didn’t take long for Ian Baraclough to introduce top-scorer Anthony Elding after the interval but it was Pat Devlin’s side who started the second period in brighter fashion. A couple of set-pieces for the Seagulls caused some worrying moments in a normally watertight Sligo rearguard.

John Mulroy slipped the ball through to the lively Ismahil Akinade who powered towards goal until Evan McMillan’s well-timed intervention cleared the danger as the league’s tightest defence held firm.

The introduction of Rafaele Cretaro shortly after the hour mark swung the momentum back in the visitors’ favour but the league leaders continued to be frustrated by a stubborn Bray outfit.

Anthony Elding may be the league’s top-scorer but he didn’t have his shooting boots with him by the seaside as he fresh aired Alan Keane’s low cross with just Quigley to beat before Lynch once again tested the Bray shot stopper from distance.

Bray’s defensive record isn’t pretty this campaign but they were standing firm as Sligo continued to exert large amounts of pressure on the home goal. Substitute Daire Doyle nearly undid all his side’s work after a lack of communication with his ‘keeper. Keane’s deep cross was headed narrowly wide by the Bray defender with Quigley left stranded.

The Bit O’Red pushed for the winner but couldn’t find the killer edge in the final third to overcome their determined opponents.

Bray Wanderers:  Darren Quigley; Eoin Hyland (Daire Doyle 45), Dave Webster, Shane O’Connor, Conor Earley; Kieran Marty Waters, John Mulroy, Gary Dempsey, Dean Zambra; Jason Byrne (Sean Hurley 90), Ismahil Akinade.
Subs not used: Paul Malone, Peter Thomas, Danny Joyce, Adam Cox, Sean Holmes.

Booked: Mulroy (80).

Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers; Alan Keane, Gavin Peers, Evan McMillan, Iarfhlaith Davoren (Rafaele Cretaro 67); Ross Gaynor, David Cawley, Joseph N’do, Lee Lynch, Pascal Millien (Anthony Elding 56); Aaron Greene.
Subs not used: Danny Ventre, Adam Murphy, Liam Martin, Jeff Henderson, Kieran Djilali.

Booked: Peers (58), Greene (85).

Referee:  Derek Tomney.

Attendance: 1,200 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Man of the match: Ismahil Akinade (Bray Wanderers).