Two goals inside the opening 14 minutes paved the way for St. Patrick's Athletic's first victory of the season. It looked at that stage like they might run away with the contest but Bray captain Gary McCabe got his side back into it on 20 minutes.
Two goals inside the opening 14 minutes paved the way for St. Patrick's Athletic's first victory of the season.
It looked at that stage like they might run away with the contest but Bray captain Gary McCabe got his side back into it on 20 minutes. Then Saints' defence stood firm against the disappointing Bray attack to land Liam Buckley his first set of three points.
The deadlock lasted 70 seconds. Conan Byrne picked up Owen Garvan's free from the right and it appeared that the attacker was trying to dig out a cross but his chipped effort sailed over the head of Aaron Dillon and looped into the far corner.
Pat's had a second in the bag by the 14th minute. Dean Clarke danced along the left flank and waltzed into the penalty area before squaring for Christy Fagan and the lethal marksman did what he does best to make it 0-2.
Pat's were threatening to be out of sight until Aaron Greene stepped in to drag his side back into contention. His lightning quick feet served him well in the penalty area and he lead the away defence on a merry dance before putting it on a plate for McCabe to smash home.
Liam Buckley's should have netted a third from a corner as both Desmond and Fagan saw their efforts superbly blocked. Graham Kelly spurned the next chance as his glancing header wasn't enough to divert a Byrne cross. Kelly would turn provider next as he beyond the Bray defence. The angle wasn't very inviting though so he held it for Fagan whose snapshot was parried by Dillon.
It could have been level on the stroke of the interval. Ronan Coughlan unleashed a vicious strike that Desmond blocked from six yards out.The second period struggled to live up to its predecessor. A dangerous Lynch cross - which begged to be converted - was as close as Bray came to a leveller, while Conan Byrne had two decent opportunities to kill off the tie but couldn't take them.
