Bray Wanderers 0-0 Sligo Rovers

Bray Wanderers and Sligo Rovers played out a scoreless draw on Friday night at the Carlisle Grounds. The point a piece does little for either side’s ambitions of returning to the top half of the table – however the result may go a long way towards ensuring neither team get drawn into a relegation battle.

Home side Bray lined up without the suspended Ger Rowe. Dane Massey was still sidelined through injury, while Chris O’Connor was still away on Olympic duty with Australia. On loan striker Aidan O’Keeffe passed a late fitness test – he had been ineligible for Brays last outing in Drogheda.

Sligo boss Paul Cook had to work around the absence of both Gavin Peers and Raff Cretaro – the pair were suspended on account of picking up four yellow cards. Also missing was striker Matthew Judge – he hadn’t yet recovered from the fractured cheek bone he suffered against Finn Harps recently. New signings Richie Ryan and Dave McDaid both started.

Brays Gavin Whelan had the first chance of the game, but his shot after an Alan Cawley corner was well blocked. Sligo’s first opening of note came from a cross from the left that Ryan headed powerfully – Alan Gough made a good save. Romo Boco tried a shot from distance, but Gough saved that also, at the second attempt.

Sligo then gifted the home side with a great chance after a slack pass from the back didn’t reach its intended target. O’Keeffe took control and played a simple ball to Paddy Kavanagh. The ex UCD man raced into the box with pace and shot powerfully, but Brush in the Sligo goal was lucky, as the ball hit his feet and bounced to safety.

Boco came closer just before the break, but once again he wasn’t able to get the better of Gough.

Striker Gary Curran and McDaid linked up well early in the second half to create a good opening for the visitors, but the substitute fired over the crossbar. The same pair were then involved as Sligo had a goal chalked off for side. Curran passed it through and McDaid finished very well, but the referee said no and awarded the home side with a free kick.

Bray midfielder Gareth Coughlan met a low cross with his head on the hour mark, but a Sligo defender got himself in the way and saved his keeper from having to get involved.

Midway through the half McDaid again came close with a shot from inside the box – but Gough was again on hand to ensure the sides stayed level. Bray came within a few inches of scoring a late goal, but Sligo native Cawley could only watch on as his driven shot came back off the crossbar.

In the end a draw was a fair result, however Sligo probably had the best of the chances, in what was overall a poor game.

Bray Wanderers: Alan Gough; Derek Pender, Kevin Doherty (Derek Foran 87), Ray Kenny, Gary Cronin; Gareth Coughlan (Paul Dunphy 64), Alan Cawley, Gavin Whelan (Colm Tresson 74), Mark Duggan; Paddy Kavanagh, Aidan O'Keefe.

Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush; Seamus Coleman, Danny Ventre, Maueo Almeida, Chris Butler; Brian Cash, Richie Ryan, Conor O'Grady (Gary Curran 27), Sean Doherty; Romauld Boco, David McDaid (Paul McTiernan 77).

Referee: Tom Connolly.

Attendance: 350 (estimate).