Sligo Rovers 2 Bray Wanderers 0
Sligo Rovers had to endure some anxious moments before finally seeing off the challenge of gritty Bray Wanderers at the Showgrounds on Saturday night.
A goal in each half was enough to keep the Sligo in the top three but Bray manager Pat Devlin was quick to point out that they were silly goals to give away.
The first goal arrived after 16 minutes when Raffaele Cretaro got possession 30 yards out, turned and drilled the ball past Darren Quigley for his 50th league goal for the league champions.
Bray were caught out badly for Sligo’s second just two minutes after half-time.
Kieran Djilali picked up the ball out near the halfway line and waltzed his way past a porous defence before firing past Quigley for what turned out to be the clincher.
Bray’s Kevin O’Connor, skipper Jason Byrne, David Webster (free kick) and John Marty Watters all had chances in the opening half but the vital breakthrough eluded them.
John Mulroy went close for the visitors from a Watters’ corner after 50 minutes and Mulroy went close again three minutes later.
Watters opened up the defence on the hour mark and again went close again a minute from time.
"We were far too open at times at the back but attack wise we were exciting" said Sligo boss Ian Baraclough.
SLIGO ROVERS:,Rogers, E McMillan, Henderson, Cawley, Connelly, Keane, Ndo, Djilali, Elding, Lynch, Cretaro, Subs: Greene for Lynch (66 mins), Martin for Elding (79 mins).
BRAY WDRS: D Quigley, Hyland, Cooney, Webster, S Quigley, Dempsey, O Connor, Watters, Zambra, Mulroy, Byrne. Subs: O Leary for Byrne (84 min), Knight for Dempsey (85),Doyle for Mulroy (86). Att: 2,082
Referee Robert Rogers (Dublin).
