LEAGUE OF IRELAND: Bray Wanderers 1 Bohemians 3- FOR THE second game in succession, Gary Deegan proved Bohemians' motivator, dragging them back into a match as Pat Fenlon's champions stretched their lead at the top of the table to four points.

Unfortunately for Deegan, the match had an unhappy ending as he was sent off 13 minutes from time for a second booking.

Bohemians, initially at least, made hard work of seeing off bottom-of-the-table Bray, who had punished poor defending by the visitors to take the lead.

Bray were content to play on the counterattack, and turned the league table on its head, if briefly, on 28 minutes.

When Ken Oman fouled Paul Byrne some 40 yards from goal, there appeared to be little danger to Brian Murphy’s goal even after David O’Neill flicked on Paddy Kavanagh’s free-kick.

But left-back Conor Powell, in attempting to clear facing his goal, contrived to gift the ball straight to Chris Sheilds and the Bray midfielder’s shot took a deflection to squirm in by a post.

Bohemians responded and were level three minutes before the break with their best piece of football of the half. Joseph Ndo slipped the ball down the right to Graham Carey, who threaded a sublime pass for the run of Deegan who drilled low past Chris O’Connor.

Bohemians might have been in front by the interval but for O’Connor’s acrobatics in making superb, diving saves to deprive Jason Byrne and Killian Brennan.

Deegan instigated Bohemians lead eight minutes into the second half, forcing the trip from O’Neill to win a penalty, which was empathically dispatched by Byrne.

The three points were secured on 61 minutes when Brennan met Carey’s free kick at a stretch from close range.

BRAY WANDERERS:O'Connor; Pender, Brennan, Foran, Knight (Forsyth, 82 mins); Kavanagh, O'Neill, Shields, McCabe; Byrne, Kelly (Coughlan, 75 mins).

BOHEMIANS:B Murphy; Heary, Shelley, Oman, Powell; Carey, Cronin (Keegan, 52 mins), Deegan, Brennan (Madden, 72 mins); Ndo, J Byrne (Rossiter, 81 mins).

Referee:Neil Doyle (Dublin).