Bray Wanderers 0 - 1 St Patricks Athletic

St. Patrick's Athletic returned to eircom League action with an unconvincing 1-0 win over Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds tonight. Mark Quigley's strike in the 81st minute was the only flash of light in this otherwise dull encounter.

The first half saw probably the worst forty-five minutes of football either side are likely to play this season. Both sides tried to play football and create chances but neither side could find the final ball to match their build-up play.

Chances were few and far between and, when they came, poor finishing was routine. The first attempt came for the hosts in the third minute. A neat triangle of passes between Mark Duggan, Gareth Cronin and Kevin Doherty saw the ball end up with Doherty on the edge of the box. The defender tried his luck but his effort sailed wide of the far post.

Pats first chance came on 36 minutes. A short-corner by Des Byrne went to Keith Fahey and he crossed low into the box for David Partridge. Partridge, however, couldn’t make a proper connection and his scuffed shot ballooned well wide.

It took 43 minutes before either side got a shot on target. The chance fell to the Saints. Bobby Ryan passed the ball into the area from the right. Ray Kenny misjudged the ball and his attempted clearance flew across the face of the Bray goal. The ball eventually landed at the feet of Alan Kirby. His touch tightened the angle and Alan Gough rushed out to block Kirby's strike.

Despite a promising start, the second half was much the same as the first. On 46 minutes, Bray’s Ray Kenny touched Fahey’s cross into the arms of Alan Gough and Pats were awarded an indirect free on the right of the six-yard box. Kirby touched the ball to Fahey who blasted the effort straight at Gough. Seven minutes later, Pats captain Fahey hit a corner from the left. It travelled all the way to the far post where Jason Gavin headed on to the roof of the net.

The next piece of excitement didn't arrive until the 81st minute. With the game seeming to pass both sides by, it was down to substitute Gary O'Neill to make a difference. His cross from the left landed on the edge of the six-yard box and the unmarked Quigley had all the time in the world to poke the ball past Gough.

The game livened up after that with chances falling to both sides. In the 84th minute, Mark Quigley should have double his and Pats tally for the evening. The ball broke down for Bray in the Saints' half and O'Neill was on it straightaway. From the halfway line, he sprayed the ball out to Quigley who ran 30 yards to get into the box. However, once he saw the white of the goals, he thumped a shot well over the bar.

It took 92 minutes for the Seagulls to muster up a shot on target. With the game now flowing back and forth at tremendous speed, Patrick Kavanagh picked up the ball on the left of the Pats area. His cross was flicked on by Doherty on the penalty spot. The header landed on the forehead of sub Andy Myler who directed the ball at goal but keeper Lance Friesz smothered the effort and, with it, Bray's hopes of a dramatic equaliser.

Pats keep the title race alive, mathematically at least, while Bray continue to play like a team whose season is over.

Bray Wanderers: Alan Gough; Gavin Whelan, Kevin Doherty, Ray Kenny, Derek Pender; Paddy Kavanagh, Mark Duggan (Paul Dunphy ’90), Daryl Robson, Gary Cronin (Gareth Coughlan ’72); Jake Kelly, Ger Rowe (Andy Myler ’90).
Subs not used: Chris O'Connor, Derek Foran.

Bookings: None.

St Patrick's Athletic: Lance Friesz; Noel Haverty, Dave Partridge, Jason Gavin, Des Byrne; Bobby Ryan, Jaroslaw Bialek (Stephen Brennan ’66), Keith Fahey, Alan Kirby; Mark Quigley (Jamie Harris ’90), Glen Fitzpatrick (Gary O’Neill ’66).
Subs not used: Barry Ryan, Dave Rogers.

Booked: Byrne (14), Gavin (17), Haverty (19).

Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).

Attendance: 1,200 (estimate)

Man of the match: Keith Fahey (St. Patrick's Athletic).