Derry City kept their slim hopes of European qualification with a 2-0 win over Bray Wanderers at the Brandywell last night.
Michael Rafter who scored Derry’s second goal.
In what as a far from convincing performance, the result keeps City in touch of a top three spot and a possible place in next season’s Europa Cup.
Derry got off to a superb start when, after just four minutes, they netted the opening goal. David McDaid sent Simon Madden scampering down the right and the defender’s teasing cross was met by McDaid who headed the ball firmly home.
Bray refused to buckle and Derry had to depend on the alertness of Gerard Doherty who produced two top drawer saves to deny Ismahil Akinade on two occasions.
Rory Patterson smashed a volley wide of the Bray upright in the 23rd minute, but the Wicklow side continued to press and, indeed, finished the first half much the stronger.
However, Patterson really should have put the game out of Bray’s reach in the 53rd minute when Barry Molloy sent the striker racing clear but in the one-on-one situation with Darren Quigley, he crashed his effort off the crossbar.
Bray could so easily have equalised when Akinade was played through by Jason Byrne but the winger sent his shot wide of the target and Derry breathed sigh of relief.
Quigley then kept the visitors in the game in the 73rd minute when producing a superb double save denying Patterson in another one-on-one situation before getting up to parry McDaid’s rebound to safety.
But the home side finally doubled their lead in the 77th minute and it was substitute, Michael Rafter, who ensured the victory when, during his first involvement in the game, he drove the ball past Darren Quigley to give the “Seagulls” no way back.
Having been sent clear by Patrick McEleney, Rafter did well to place his curling shot into the corner and Bray’s battle against relegation continues.
Derry City: Doherty; Madden, S. McEleney, Jarvis, Osborne (P. McEleney 54); McDaid, Higgins, Molloy, Duffy; Curran (Rafter 73), Patterson (Foy 89).
Bray Wanderers: Quigley; S. O’Connor, Webster, Mitchell, Earley; Akinade, Dempsey, K. O’Connor, Maher (Knight 65); Byrne.
Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
Elsewhere, St Patrick’s extended their lead at the top of the league with a 2-0 win over Stephen Kenny’s 10-man Dundalk while a Sligo Rovers victory maintained their grip on third spot.
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