Champions Bohemians moved comfortably four points clear of closest challengers Derry City at the top of the Premier Division table with a comfortable victory over basement side Bray Wanderers at a sun-drenched Carlisle Grounds last night.

Representatives of Red Bull Salzburg, the Austrian team who Bohemians meet in the Champions League second round later this month, will have watched this game with more than passing interest as the Dubliners made it 12 wins in 18 league games this season.

Against the run of play Bray took the lead on 28 minutes A Paddy Kavanagh free on the left was nodded on by Dave O'Neill with the ball missed by Bohs defender Conor Powell. Midfielder Chris Shields took advantage to curl home his defelected shot from 15 yards.

But Bohemians were level on 42 minutes when a clever ball from Ndo enabled Carey to cut in from the right and allow Deegan to shoot home from the eight yards.

The Dublin side eventually had their noses in front on 63 minutes when Byrne supplied the ball to Deegan inside the box only for the midfielder to be taken down by midfielder Dave O'Neill.

Former Bray man Byrne made no mistake with the resulting penalty sending 'keeper Chris O'Connor the wrong way for his 15th league goal of the season.

The three points were made certain on 61minutes when a Carey free on the right was hammered home left-footed by Killian Brennan from close range with the Seagulls defence all at sea.

Even the sending off of midfielder Deegan on 77 minutes for a second yellow card offence could not prevent Bohemians cruising to another victory, more convincing than the scoreline suggested.

Bray Wanderers: O'Connor; Pender, Brennan, Knight (Forsyth 82), Foran; Kavanagh, O'Neill, Shields, McCabe; P.Byrne, Kelly (Coughlan 75).

Bohemians: Murphy; Heary, Shelley, Oman, Powell; Carey, Deegan, Cronin (Keegan 62), Brennan (Madden 72); Ndo, J.Byrne (Rossiter 81).

Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin)