Bray Wanderers 0 Shamrock Rovers 1:Having scored against arch-rivals Bohemians in midweek, Tadhg Purcell found the net early and late to further endear himself to Shamrock Rovers' fans as Pat Scully's side got back to winning ways.

Rovers had conceded two late goals to fall to an undeserved defeat at Dalymount Park, but they never looked in any real trouble before a sun-drenched crowd of over 2,500 at the Carlisle Grounds.

Meetings between these sides generally provide good fare, and the seventh-minute opener offered promise. But despite much endeavour, the skill level was low and the game developed into a scrappy affair.

Rovers won't mind too much as Bray were left to dwell on giving away two bad goals.

The first came when Rovers' Derek Pender put in a block tackle to win the ball from Gary Cronin on the right and Purcell was fully alert to the opening, racing in behind the square Bray defence to shoot low under Steve Williams.

Bray almost levelled on 26 minutes, Paul Dunphy getting free down the inside left channel. His initial shot rebounded to him and the Rovers captain Barry Ferguson did well to block the follow-up out for a corner.

Bray survived some early Rovers pressure in the second half before enjoying their best spell of the match, though without really threatening Barry Murphy in the Rovers goal.

Purcell's opportunism then sealed Rovers' win from yet another defensive mistake 10 minutes from the end.

Steven Gough dallied and was caught in possession by Purcell, who again ran through to shoot under Williams, the confident finish sealing Rovers' third win in four games.

BRAY WANDERERS: Williams; Gough, Derek Tyrrell, Delaney, Cronin (Georgescu, 66 mins); Caffrey, Cawley, Duggan, David Tyrrell; O'Shea (Deans, 83 mins), Dunphy.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy; O'Brien, Ferguson, Ryan, Clarke; Pender (Cassidy, 79 mins), Barrett, E McGill, D McGill; Purcell, Rowe.

Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).