Bray Wanderers 3 Bohemians 1: Crafty marksman David Tyrrell was the hero for Bray Wanderers when two stunning early free kicks paved the way for the Seagulls to earn a fully deserved victory over Bohemians in last night's tensely fought Premier Division clash at the Carlisle Grounds.

Bohemians had one early chance when player-coach Gareth Farrelly had an effort pushed away at the second attempt by Bray's debuting American goalkeeper Pat Hannigan, after Fergal Harkin had created the opening on the right.

Then that man Tyrrell took control of affairs for the Seagulls when firing home to the top corner of the net on 10 minutes after Bohemians defender Stephen Rice had fouled Bray striker Andrei Georgescu.

Tyrrell, who finishes his loan spell from Shelbourne at the end of the season, was on target with another stunning free on 20 minutes with another spectacular free from 28 yards that gave Bohemians goalkeeper Matt Gregg no chance.

This followed a foul by Terry Palmer on Bray striker Stephen Fox - and signalled the exodus from the stadium of a significant number of the Dalymount Park side's supporters who by then felt that their team's hopes of qualification for next season's Intertoto Cup were at an end.

Tyrrell went close to a hat-trick on the half hour when he cleverly skipped past Rice after a neat ball from Philip Keogh on the left. Goalkeeper Gregg was able to parry the shot, but there was no Wanderers forward up to take advantage of the clear-cut opening.

For all their self-inflicted torment, Bohemians should really have reduced the deficit on 37 minutes when Bray central defender Brian McGovern fouled Aidan O'Keeffe inside the area.

McGovern was duly shown the yellow card by Dublin referee Paul Tuite.

Tony Grant's resulting penalty was finger-tipped on to the post by Hannigan and cleared to safety by a relieved Wanderers defence.

But Bohemians made no mistake on 49 minutes when O'Keeffe headed home from close range after a probing Farrelly cross from the right.

Suddenly it was game on again with the Seagulls forced to defend in numbers, with Farrelly desperately unlucky with a superb effort that rebounded off the crossbar.

But Bohemians suffered a major set-back when winger John Paul Kelly was sent off for foul and abusive language to the referee on 67 minutes. It was his third red card of the season.

Late on Bray lived dangerously when Harkin had a shot brilliantly pushed over by the alert Hannigan.

But the three points were guaranteed on 90 minutes when substitute Ciarán Ryan fired home from 12 yards after striker Fox had cut open the Bohemians defence on the right.

BRAY WANDERERS: Hannigan; Gifford, Roche, McGovern, Long; Tresson, Caffrey, Keogh, Tyrrell; Georgescu, Fox. Subs: O'Reilly for Gifford (66 mins); K O'Brien for Caffrey (78 mins); Ryan for Georgescu (85 mins)

BOHEMIANS: Gregg; Rice, Oman, Palmer (Dunphy 86), Keddy; Harkin, Hunt, Farrelly, Kelly; Grant, O'Keeffe. Subs: Dunphy for Palmer (86 mins)

Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin)