Drogheda Utd ... 2 Bray Wanderers ... 1Drogheda United ended a run of defeats with a hard-earned victory at O2 Park last night. They went ahead early on, but were pegged back level midway through the half. Despite being reduced to 10 men in the second half, Drogheda grabbed a vital winning goal 14 minutes from the end.

Drogheda took the lead with barely six minutes gone on the clock when Declan O'Brien's six-yard strike was parried by Bray goalkeeper Matt Gregg, who couldn't prevent the ball going in off the post.

Bray should have levelled on 13 minutes when, from a Colm Tresson right-wing cross, John Flood headed narrowly wide. The visitors threatened once more on the quarter of an hour mark when from a Tresson left-wing cross Eamonn Zayed rifled his 12-yard strike inches wide.

Bray drew level on 20 minutes when Tresson's 20-yard shot was deflected past Gary Rogers in the home goal by one of his defenders.

With 75 minutes on the clock, a Tresson shot from the edge of the box was stopped on the line by Mark Quinless. Immediately at the other end United struck for what proved to be the winning goal. Declan O'Brien found Andy Myler 12 yards from goal, and the big striker turned on a sixpence to rifle the ball to the roof of the net.

DROGHEDA UTD: Rogers, O'Connor, Kelly, Lynch, Todd, Smith, Quinless, Taylor, O'Brien, Myler, Dempsey. Subs: Dunne for Taylor (half time)

BRAY WANDERERS: Greg, Tresson, Doohan, O'Hanlon, Charles, Fox, O'Connor, Keogh, Zayed, Flood, Forsyth. Subs: Lawlor for Flood (59 mins); Gormley for Forsyth (73 mins); O'Brien for Zayed (83 mins)

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork)