Bray W 0 Derry C 0:BRAY WANDERERS moved further out of the dreaded relegation zone by sharing the spoils with Derry City in a tight encounter at a near-deserted Carlisle Grounds.

Minus suspended veteran striker Jason Byrne, Bray had an early chance when Sean Houston had an effort blocked by Shane McEleney only for Marty Waters to fire the rebound wide.

The Seagulls again went close on eight minutes when a Dave Webster cross from the right allowed John Mulroy to get in a header pushed away for a corner by goalkeeper Ger Doherty.

Derry threatened and winger Stephen McLaughlin headed wide before Houston blazed over for the home side on 23 minutes.

A Simon Madden cross from the left almost led to Derry breaking the deadlock when a poor clearance by Danny O’Connor enabled Ruaidhri Higgins to fire just narrowly wide of the target.

Bray had a chance after 48 minutes as a long clearance by goalkeeper Darren Quigley allowed Mulroy to get in a shot blocked by the knees of Doherty.

Doherty rescued the Candystripes twice when producing superlative saves to deny efforts from Waters and Mulroy as Bray piled on the pressure.

Derry went close on 70 minutes when a fiercely struck volley by David McDaid from 20 yards was deflected by Dane Massey out for a corner.

BRAY WANDERERS: Quigley; Webster, D O’Connor, S O’Connor, Massey; Marshall (Akinade 66), Mulroy, K.O’Connor, Doyle (Dixon 84), Houston; Waters (Earley 82).

DERRY CITY: Doherty; Madden, McBride, S McEleney (Greacen 78), McCaffrey; McLaughlin, Higgins, Molloy, Morrison (Curran 83); McDaid, P McEleney (Murphy 57).

Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin).