"It's a great sign of the times when we can say that we were disappointed not to beat Dundalk at home," said the Bray Wanderers manager, Pat Devlin, after his side were left to rue a host of missed chances in the first half at the Carlisle Grounds on Saturday night.
The draw consolidates Bray's third place in the table, while Dundalk, still without a win from six games, clearly have much to do if they're to rise above the relegation zone.
Bray should have been several goals to the good before half-time. Pat O'Brien contrived to shoot wide with only Steve Williams to beat and the Dundalk goalkeeper then made two excellent saves to deprive Jason Byrne.
Dundalk did settle a little but it was Bray who continued to make all the running. Alan Dood tested Williams again while Jody Lynch headed wide unchallenged and Byrne forced another finger-tip save from Williams two minutes before the break.
The second half was a huge disappointment with only one tame effort from Byrne on goal as the game developed into a rather scrappy affair.
Bray Wanderers: Kane; Tresson, Lynch, McKeever, Gill; P. O'Brien, Smyth, Dodd, Keogh; Ryan, Byrne. Subs: Parsons for 0'Brien (79 mins), Kenny for Ryan (84 mins), Connolly for Keogh (88 mins).
Dundalk: Williams; Reddish, Melvin, Brady, McNulty; R. Campbell, Thew, Doolin, Hoey; Ward, Withnell.
Referee: T Tully (Cork).
