Bray Wanderers 1 Derry City 1Bray Wanderers came back from the dead to earn a precious point in their battle against relegation when a goal in the second minute of added time by substitute Paul Dunphy gave them a deserved draw at the Carlisle Grounds last night.
That's four games unbeaten, and they now must be favourites to retain their place in the top flight with just four matches remaining.
Derry started the brighter with Ruaidhri Higgins providing a perfect ball from midfield with Gareth McGlynn just unable to get the final touch.
Bray did threaten when midfielder Alan Cawley put Patrick Kavanagh in the clear. A brilliant reflex save by Patrick Jennings denied the winger.
Clive Delaney almost had Bray ahead on 20 minutes, only for his header from eight yards to fly just over the top.
But Derry had their noses in front on 26 minutes when a powerful, 25-yard cross from the right by defender Kevin Deery was touched home by Gareth McGlynn.
Bray lived dangerously when goalkeeper Steve Williams accepted a back pass from Ray Kenny. From the resulting free by Kevin McHugh from seven yards, Delaney cleared off the line with the goalkeeper beaten.
With Peter Hutton and Eddie McCallion inspirational centre backs in the heart of the defence, little was seen of Bray as an attacking force with John Robertson's side seemingly content to play keep-ball for long periods.
Jennings did well to punch out a free by Cawley on 73 minutes as Bray at last applied the pressure following a foul by Neil McCafferty just outside the box.
But Dunphy had the final say when he shot home to the corner of the net. The ball broke between Delaney and Hutton after a long free out by Ronan Ivory. Dunphy's finish from 12 yards was clinical to earn a precious point.
BRAY WANDERERS:Williams; Ivory, Kenny, Delaney, Cronin; Kavanagh, Cawley, Duggan (Caffrey 87), O'Shea (McCabe 65); Fox, Georgescu (Dunphy 39).
DERRY CITY:Jennings; Deery, Hutton, McCallion, Brennan; Higgins, Martyn, McCafferty, Molloy, McGlynn; McHugh.
Referee: Derek Tomney(Dublin).
