Bray Wanderers ... 1 Derry City ... 2A goal in each half from veteran striker Liam Coyle and utility man Sean Hargan boosted Derry City's Premier Division survival hopes as Bray Wanderers were demoted to the First Division for the third time in 10 years at the Carlisle Grounds last night.
Hargan will not be a popular man around Co Wicklow this summer. This was his sixth league goal of the season and four of those have been against the Seagulls.
Bray had started the stronger of the two outfits with Paul Forsythe having an early effort pushed over by Alan Gough and the goalkeeper again came to the rescue to keep out a Jason Byrne header.
Coyle showed his classic touches when first seeing a 30-yard effort pushed over by Bray keeper Matt Gregg. But there was no denying the striker in added time of the first half. Following a Jody Lynch foul on Gareth McGlynn, Sean Friars took the resulting free kick and hesitancy in the home defence allowed Coyle to shoot home from close range.
Bray battled hard afteer the break but against the run of play, Derry grabbed a dramatic late winner when Hargan was on hand to shoot home from six yards after a Friars effort had been blocked by defender Paul O'Reilly.
BRAY WANDERERS: Gregg; O'Reilly, Charles, Lynch, Farrell; Tresson, Fox, Keogh, Forsyth; Byrne, Flood. Subs: Lawlor for Flood 61; Morgan for Keogh 75, O'Connor for Forsyth 78.
DERRY CITY: Gough; E McCallion, Hargan, Hutton, McLaughlin, Doherty, McGlynn, Deery, Coyle, T McCallion, Friars. Subs: McCready for Coyle 86, Hughes for Friars 90, Gill for McGlynn 90-.
Referee: A Kelly (Cork)
