Drogheda United seem condemned to almost certain relegation from the Premier Division after nine seasons in the top flight after being held to a dull draw by fellow strugglers Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds on Sunday afternoon.

With both teams each having two matches to play, second from bottom Bray are six points ahead of Drogheda and are seven goals better off on goal difference.

Drogheda had a perfect start on six minutes when a brilliantly struck 22 yard free by Spanish defender Yael Haro curled past keeper Matt Gregg into the corner of the net after a foul by Derek Prendergast on striker Darragh McNamara. It was Haro's first goal for the club.

The visitors went close to stretching their lead ten minutes later when former Bray player John Flood shot inches wide under pressure from defender Dane Massey.

Striker Chris Shields twice had chances to have the Seagulls level when first shooting straight at 'keeper Robert Duggan  and then seeing a header sail wide after a free by Gary Dempsey.

Bray had appeals for a penalty turned down on 32 minutes when Shane O'Neill robbbed Haro on the right and his cross then appeared to be handled by Jamie Harris. Dublin referee Paul Tuite allowed play to continue.

But the Seagulls were level on 39 minutes when O'Neill made no mistake with a penalty in firing past Duggan after Haro had fouled Shields just inside the box.

Bray went close to grabbing the lead on 54 minutes when a Dempsey free on the right allowed Prendergast to get in a powerful header from close range blocked by Harris.

Then O'Neill had a shot on the turn well blocked by Duggan after Shields had created an opening in the packed Drogheda defence.

Gregg came to Bray's rescue on 66 minutes when getting down to block a close range efffort from Darren Meenan after the dangerous Peter McMahon had cut in from the right.         

Both teams had late chances to win the three points when first Shields put Daire Doyle away on the right only to see his cross headed just over by Ian Tuohy. Then at the other end substitute Ray Brennan saw his first effort blocked by  Prendergast in a crowded goalmouth and then a second attempt fired over from the rebound.

The brilliance of Gregg denied Drogheda  in the sixth minute of added time when he rose to push away a another dangerous Harris header after a dangerous cross from McMahon on the left.

Bray Wanderers: Gregg; Doyle, Mitchell, Prendergast, (Tresson 90), Massey; Zambra, D O'Connor (S O'Connor 85), Dempsey, Tuohy; Shields, O'Neill.

Substitutes Not Used: Kane, Waters, Kelly.

Drogheda United: Duggan; Tracey, McNally, Harris, Haro; Meenan (Brennan 66), Daly, Crowley, McMahon; McNamara, Flood.

Substitutes Not Used: Skinner, Campbell, McGill, McEntaggart.

Referee: P Tuite (Dublin).