Bray Wanderers 1 Derry City 0ALAN CAWLEY scored from the penalty spot for the second week running to earn Bray a morale-boosting win as Derry finished with 10 men at the Carlisle ground.

Title-hopefuls Derry can have few complaints about their first defeat of the league season as they lacked real conviction in front of goal as a dogged Bray bided their time to strike.

That came on 74 minutes from visiting goalkeeper Gerard Doherty's poor clearance.

Bray winger Patrick Kavanagh got his head to the ball to put Ger Rowe in on goal and Clive Delaney, a former Bray captain, pulled the striker down.

Cork referee Anthony Buttimer somewhat harshly brandished a straight red to Delaney and Cawley, who scored from the spot against Bohemians last week, stepped up to find the net off the underside of the crossbar.

Derry responded by throwing everything at Bray with Mark Farren just failing to get on the end of fellow substitute Niall McGinn's inviting cross.

Bray keeper Chris O'Connor then excelled to make the save of the night from McGinn's drive on 78 minutes.

Derry continued to press until the end and might have snatched an equaliser in stoppage time.

McGinn danced clear down the left to cross but Gareth McGlynn just failed to get the vital touch as Bray survived for a big win.

Despite the injured Paddy McCourt's absence, Derry started well in the swirling seaside breeze, but though they carved out the majority of the chances in first half, it was Bray who should have been in front at the break having wasted a clear opening for Rowe.

BRAY WANDERERS: O'Connor; Pender, Doherty, Foran, Cronin; Whelan, Tresson, Cawley, Duggan (Kenny, 83 mins); Kavanagh, Rowe (Dunphy, 80 mins).

DERRY CITY: Doherty; McCallion (McGinn, 60 mins), Hutton, Delaney, Gray; McGlynn, Molloy, Martyn, Morrison (Higgins, 82 mins); McHugh, Sammon (Farren, 60 mins).

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).