Bray Wanderers 0 St Patrick's Athletic 3:TWO GOALS inside three second-half minutes kept St Patrick's nicely on the boil ahead of Monday's home clash with champions Shamrock Rovers.

A Stephen Bradley penalty and a stunning strike from Dave Mulcahy ended Bray’s defiance. Anthony Murphy added a third as Pete Mahon’s side made it three wins in four league games.

It was 24 minutes before the first opening arrived; Bray defender O’Connor hacking clear off the line after Danny North got a faint touch to a Derek Pender diagonal ball into the home box.

Chris Shields had just cleared off the line from Daryl Kavanagh before St Patrick’s deservedly took the lead on 53 minutes.

Shane O’Connor hauled down visitors’ winger Seán O’Connor and Bradley scored emphatically from the spot.

Mulcahy then hit the goal of the night minutes later, rifling home a crisp right-foot volley from 20 yards. It was all over for Bray on 67 minutes when Ian Daly got away on the right to fire over a low cross which Murphy turned home at the far post.

While in-form Saints were effectively at full strength, Bray were missing the key experience of Danny O’Connor and skipper Gary Dempsey in central midfield.

BRAY WANDERERS: Quigley; Webster, S O'Connor, Shields, Houston; J Kelly, Doyle, G Kelly (Zambra, 61 mins), Knight; Murphy (O'Neill, 70 mins), McGuinness (Shaw, 61 mins).

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Pender, E McMillan, Kenna, Bermingham; Murphy, Mulcahy (Crowley, 80 mins), Bradley, O'Connor; Kavanagh, North (Daly, 38 mins).

Referee: A Kelly(Cork ).