CONOR MURPHY was the hero as his dramatic last minute goal got Bray Wanderers back on the winning track with the narrowest of victories over UCD.

A tense clash at the Carlisle Grounds was decided by striker Murphy, also on target after just eight minutes, in his last game before he links up with Paul Doolin's Republic of Ireland Under 19 squad for next week's UEFA Championship Elite qualifiers against Poland, Ukraine and Italy in Poland.

      The Seagulls were ahead after eight minutes when a neat interchange of passes between defefender Dane Massey and winger Jake Kelly on the left Iaid on the chance for Murphy to shoot home from close range after the College defender Sean Russell failed to clear.

         The home side might then have stretched their lead when a corner on the left by skipper Gary Dempsy allowed the unmarked Danny O'Connor to get in a header at the far post just over the bar.

         The Students were level on 20 minutes after a foul by Dempsey on winger Dean Marshall inside the box. Marshall took the penalty himself and although 'keeper Matt Gregg got his fingertips to the ball, he could not prevent it entering the net.

          College should have been in front on 24 minutes when Samir Belhout found himself in the clear. His first effort was blocked by defender Adam Mitchell and from the rebound the striker then sliced the ball wide of the unguarded goal.

          The Students wasted further chances just before the interval when first Graham Rusk cut in from the left only to shoot wide and then Darren Meenan set up a chance for Belhout who saw his effort blocked by the feet of 'keeper Gregg.

          Bray went close to grabbing the lead again on 47 minutes when a free by Jake Kelly on the right was headed wide by Mitchell with 'keeper Ger Barron out of position. Kelly then had a shot  just off-target after a Shane O'Connor throw-in had been flicked on by Murphy.

           Then Barron came to College's rescue when diving at the feet of Shane O'Neill to grab the ball after Murphy had carved open the visitors' defence with a precise pass through the middle. 

            Kelly, O'Neill and Dempsey all went close went close as Bray went all out for a winner in the closing stages. Barron then performed further heroics for the visitors  when blocking three late efforts from Kelly, Murphy and Dempsey.

         But it was youngster Murphy who was to have the final say when he slotted the ball home in the last minute with a superb finish from 12 after substitute Daire Doyle had set up the chance with Bray now moving up to fifth place in the Premier Division table.   

BRAY WANDERERS - Gregg; S.O'Connor, Mitchell, Prendergast . Massey (Kendrick 66) ; Zambra, Dempsey, Danny O'Connor (D.Doyle 45), J.Kelly; Murphy, O'Neill (McGuinness 74).

UCD - Barron; P.O'Conor, David O'Connor, Colton, Russell  (Kavanagh 82); Marshall, Corry, Ledwith, Rusk (Nangle 51); Belhout (S.Doyle 64), Meenan.