Derry City - 0 Bray Wanderers - 0: Derry City slipped up at the Brandywell last night when failing to break down a stubborn Bray Wanderers defence. The point earned by Eddie Gormley's side increased their lead over Waterford at the other end of the table to three points.
With Derry's Ciarán Martyn shadowed throughout the proceedings by Paul O'Reilly, the home side struggled to breach an overworked visiting defence. The only scoring chances of note fell to the home side who had dominated possession during the opening half.
In the 10th minute centre half Ken Oman's downward header failed to hit the target following a Paddy McCourt corner, but the best chance of the opening period arrived in the 34th minute. Eddie McCallion worked his way in behind the Bray defence and his cross found Mark Farren, but the striker's goal-bound shot was charged down by Colm James.
Bray never threatened during the first half with lone striker Andrei Georgescue isolated.
After the break it was very much a case of more of the same with Bray flooding their defence and Derry failing to extend goalkeeper Chris O'Connor. Farren shot wide in the 50th minute when well-placed before Derry appealed for a penalty in the 64th minute after a Bray defender appeared to handle McCourt's cross into the area, but referee Dave McKeon waved play on.
The home side should have broken the deadlock in the 76th minute when Farren missed a sitter. Gareth McGlynn crossed to the back post but despite a free header from close range, Farren failed to hit the target.
By the 79th minute, the home side began to panic and with five minutes remaining a Martyn flick-on was headed over the Bray crossbar by substitute Stephen O'Flynn.
It was not to be Derry's night when, in the 92nd minute, O'Flynn diverted a Seán Hargan punt on to the Bray crossbar.
DERRY CITY: Forde; McCallion, Oman (O'Flynn, 77 mins.), Hutton, Hargan; McGlynn, Martyn, Molloy (Higgins, 70 mins.), McCourt; McHugh (Beckett, 58 mins.), Farren.
BRAY WANDERERS: O'Connor; Ivory, Fox, Tresson, Deans, Tyrell; James, O'Reilly, Caffrey, Broderick (O'Shea, 13 mins.); Georgescue (Lacey, 86 mins.).
Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).
