BRAY WANDERERS and Sligo Rovers had to settle for a point apiece in a dour defence-dominated Premier Division clash at the Carlisle Grounds last night.

 

       Sligo, badly missing the midfield artistry of the injured Joseph Ndo, never reached last season's level of performance as underdogs Bray were full value for a share of the spoils.

     The Seagulls had an early let-off when Sligo's John Dillon supplied a perfect ball from the right on five minutes to fellow midfielder John Russell only to see his excellent 25 yard effort clip the bar and over the top.

     Dillon then played a clever through ball down the right only for winger Eoin Doyle to see his close range effort pushed round the post by Bray 'keeper Matt Gregg for a corner.

       Winger Jake Kelly went close for Bray on the half hour when he lobbed a long distant effort just over the bar after midfielder Gary Dempsey had created the opening on the right.

       Sligo did have a chance to break the deadlock on 31 minutes when a long clearance from 'keeper Brendan Clarke enabled Russell to get in a lofted effort, again just over the bar.

       Bray went close to breaking the deadlock on 47 minutes, when striker John Mulroy cut in from the left only to see his shot shave the upright and wide.

         The visitors were unlucky not to grab the lead on 55 minutes when a corner by Richie Ryan on the right allowed defender Gavin Peers to get in a diving header which was fired on by Doyle but straight into the arms of 'keeper Gregg.

       Sligo squandered another chance when Adam Mitchell had a misplaced back-header after a probing ball from substitute Aaron Greene. But, in the clear, fellow sub. Raffaele Cretaro lobbed wide of the target when a goal seemed certain.      

       Late on, Gregg was the hero for Bray when he dived at the feet of the incoming Greene after Cretaro had suppled the opening on the right

     Bray Wanderers - Gregg; Webster, Mitchell, Prendergast, Kendrick; Zambra (O'Neill 87), Dempsey, O'Connor (Murphy 87), J.Kelly, Massey (94); Shields, Mulroy. `    

     Sligo Rovers   - Clarke; Keane, Peers, McGuinness, Davoren Dillon, Ventre (Kirby 77), Ryan, E.Doyle (Greene 56), Russell (Cretaro 56), Blinkhorn.

         Referee - Neil Doyle (Dublin).