Bray Wanderers 1 Dundalk 1:BRAY WANDERERS look doomed to relegation despite a fighting draw after a dour struggle at the Carlisle Grounds last night.

Bray, with just two matches to play against Derry City (away) and Bohemians (home), trail ninth-placed Drogheda United by four points and the Louth team have a match in hand.

Dundalk had a chance on 14 minutes when striker Ger Rowe produced a good probing ball for winger Michael McGowan who saw his 15-yard effort well-saved by Chris O’Connor.

Then a cross from McGowan was missed by O’Connor, but skipper Derek Pender was back to make a clearance with the rest of the defence all at sea.

Bray had a chance of breaking the deadlock on 24 minutes when a cross from winger Jake Kelly was headed just wide by John Flood from six yards.

Only a goal-line clearance by defender Shaun Kelly prevented Bray taking the lead on 51 minutes after a corner by Kelly was flicked into a crowded goalmouth by striker Paul Byrne.

Bray took the lead on 57 minutes when a Dave Webster cross from the right was handled by central defender Liam Burns inside the area. It seemed a harsh decision, but Kelly fired the penalty past Peter Cherry.

Dundalk did have ball in the net on 73 minutes when Darren Mansaram headed home, only to be ruled out for offside.

O’Connor performed heroics on 74 minutes when he pushed a long-range free by McGowan round the post. But from the resulting corner midfielder Michael Daly scrambled the ball home.

BRAY WANDERERS: O’Connor; Pender, Webster, Deans, Doyle; Tresson (Shields 81), Brennan (Coughlan 90), Mulcahy, J Kelly; Byrne, Flood (Mulroy 85).

DUNDALK: Cherry, Shaun Kelly, Burns, Coburn, Simon Kelly (Murphy 65); Michael McGowan, Daly, McAreavey, Mansaram; Rowe, Williams.

Referee: David McKeon (Meath).