Monaghan Utd 0 Bray W 0:BRAY WANDERERS soaked up plenty of pressure and survived the 89th-minute sending off of goalkeeper Matt Gregg to keep First Division Monaghan United at bay and earn the scoreless draw that gives them a precious advantage going into the second leg of this Airtricity League promotion/relegation play-off.

Bray started brightly at Gortakeegan, Graham Kelly storming forward to drive just high of the target in the opening minutes. But increasingly Wanderers were pinned back by United’s use of long but accurate passes.

Philly Hughes, who had an early penalty appeal waved away by referee Damien Hancock, thrilled the home support with a 40-yard volley which surprised Bray goal keeper Matt Gregg only kept out with difficulty.

A more realistic scoring chance fell the way of United’s Seán Brennan in the 19th minute, but he shot wide after Hughes’s downward header.

Monaghan dominated the half, the final minute of which saw Hughes burst clear but his half-volley on the run was turned away by the diving Gregg.

Wanderers exerted more of an influence on what became an increasingly cagey second half, but all efforts to find the head of Chris Shields were stifled by the towering Brian Gartland. Hughes didn’t threaten again until the 74th minute, shrugging off Danny O’Connor’s challenge but driving wide.

A minute from time Gartland’s long ball freed Darragh Hanaphy, and Gregg’s clattering foul on the United substitute gave referee Hancock no option but to flash red. Substitute goalkeeper Brian Kane replaced Shane O’Neill but Wanderers saw out the four minutes of added time without concession.

MONAGHAN UNITED: Sava; Whelan, Gartland, McMahon, Grimes; Brennan (Hanaphy 53), Tierney, Byrne, O’Connor (Costigan 84); Bermingham (McNeill 65), Hughes.

BRAY WANDERERS: Gregg; Doyle, D O’Connor, S O’Connor, Massey; Zambra, G Kelly (Shaw 68), Dempsey, J Kelly; Shields, O’Neill.

Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).