AIDAN DOWNES has given Bohs a reason to look up again. An assist and strike from the stand-in forward proved just enough to give Pat Fenlon’s side their first win in three games.

 

And his impetus was badly needed. It was actually Bray who began the game with a bit more invention, Dean Zambra attempting an audacious lob over Craig Sexton after 11 minutes that went just wide. Ten minutes later, then, Jake Kelly went even closer with a scuffed shot just wide.

With Bohs seemingly a bit off their best after recent cup heroics, it took them half an hour to put together a decent move. Typically, anything productive they did manage came through Killian Brennan. On 15 minutes, the winger fizzed a long shot just over the bar. And, just after Kelly had gone close for Bray, one of the winger’s in-swinging corners almost ended up in the net. With the ball bouncing around the Bray box via a number of bodies, Shane O’Connor eventually cleared.

Bohs should have taken the lead on 34 minutes, however, when Brennan sent after a wicked, inviting cross for Downes. The stand-in striker met it superbly but Darren Quigley equalled that effort with a fine reflex save.

On 54 minutes, however, Downes found enough space. Released on the right, he squared for Anto Flood who easily finished. And, 18 minutes later, Downes got in on the act himself. His low 30-yard shot skipped past Quigley to make it 2-0.

At that point, Bohs looked in cruise control. But it would prove crucial. On 80 minutes, David Webster headed home a set-piece for Bray to make the final 10 minutes that bit more edgy. Bohs, however, had done just enough.

BOHEMIANS: Sexton; Rossiter, Heary, Cronin, Cahill (Buckley 25); O’Brien, Price, Hurley (Bayly 64), Brennan; Flood, Downes

BRAY WANDERERS: Quigley; Webster, O’Connor, Prendergast, Knight; O’Neill (Murphy 80), Doyle, G Kelly, J Kelly (McGuinness 64); Mulroy (Shaw 74), Zambra

REFEREE: P Sutton (Clare)