SLIGO ROVERS strengthened their title credentials with a convincing 3-0 defeat of Bray Wanderers at the Showgrounds.

Two goals inside four minutes at the end of the first half set the Bit O’ Red on their way, before Alan Keane wrapped it up with a third on 67 minutes.

Danny Ventre opened the scoring on 39 minutes, after some persistent pressure on the Bray defence – the ball eventually dropping invitingly for the midfielder to blast home from inside the box.

John Russell’s second goal in two games followed shortly after, as Bray failed to deal with a John Dillon ball into the area, and Russell raced in at the back to smash a left-foot shot to the net.

Rovers were comfortable in the second period and should have had a third when Richie Ryan’s superb ball released Eoin Doyle, but Quigley rushed out to save the striker’s effort, and Dean Zambra headed Doyle’s follow-up effort off the line.

But Rovers got their third when the excellent Keane finally found the net on 67 minutes.

This time Iarfhlaith Davoren provided the cross for the full-back to head home at the back post and seal the points.

SLIGO ROVERS: Clarke, Keane, Peers, McGuinness, Davoren, Dillon (Cretaro 64), Ryan, Ventre (Kirby 65), Russell, Ndo (Powell 75), Doyle.

BRAY WANDERERS: Quigley, Webster, S O’Connor, Prendergast, Houston, Zambra, Doyle (Butler 77), Shields, Knight (Shaw 61), Kelly, O’Neill (Murphy 70).

REFEREE: G Kelly.