Finanancially-troubled Derry City moved up to third place in the table when a dramatic 90th minute header by Gareth McGlynn gave them the narrowest of victories over basment club Bray Wanderers in last night's dour Premier Division clash at the Carlisle Grounds.

Candystripes skipper Peter Hutton had made a rallying call to players, officials, supporters and potential backers before the game for unity of purpose after it was revealed that the Derry players had received only 25 per cent of their wages for last month.

That seemed to have the desired effect with the Canystripes recording a fourth league win in a row and the possibility of 'big gates' for the home games next week against Galway United and Dundalk.

The Seagulls had an early chance when a Dave Webster cross from the right found midfielder Dane Massey at the far post only for his header to be just wide of the target.

Derry did threaten on eight minutes when a corner by young James McClean on the right enabled Ger O'Brien to get in a shot blocked by Bray 'keeper Chris O'Connor.

Scottish striker Tam McManus then had a shot on the rebound which hit Mark Farren on the back to enable McClean to get in another effort , again well saved by Aussie O'Connor.

Bray went closest to breaking the deadlock on 29 minutes after a clever ball from Gary McCabe down the right put Gareth Coughlan in the clear only for his angled shot to be inches off target.

Derry dominated the closing stages of the first half when twice hitting the woodwork in the space of four minutes. First a half clearance by Massey allowed defender Eddie McCallion to fire in a spectacular volley from 25 yards which rebounded off the underside of the bar only for McGlynn to head straight into the arms of O'Connor.

Then Farren picked up a loose ball in midfield on 34 minutes and unleashed a brilliant 22 yard effort which again rebounded off the bar to safety with O'Connor beaten.

Derry should really have taken the lead on 52 minutes when a McClean cross from the left found the unmarked Farren in the box, but his looping header was comfortably gathered by the alert O'Connor.

After a great burst down the left by defender Derek Pender, the Bray man skipped past two Derry defenders but there was one up to take advantage of his defence splitting cross.

A cross from Ruardhri Higgins from the left seemed to take a deflection of a Bray defender only for McManus to fire left-foooted just over the bar. The Candystripes continued on the offensive when a McClean shot was only partially blocked by Chris Deans only for O'Connor to again perform heroics and divert the ball for a corner.

That dramatic last minute winner came after a long free by goalkeeper Gerard Doherty was headed away from O'Connor by late substitute Aaron Nash to allow McGlynn to nod home from close range.

Bray Wanderers: O'Connor; Webster, Foran, Deans, Pender; Coughlan (Kelly 73), Shields, O'Neill, Massey; McCabe, Flood (McNeill 83).

Derry City: Doherty; Deery (Molloy 57), O'Brien, Hutton, McCallion; McGlynn, Martyn , Higgins, McClean; Farren (Nash 83), McManus.

Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin)