LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION Bohemians 1 Bray Wanderers 2: CHAMPIONS Bohemians, reduced to nine men after midfielder Gary Deegan and goalkeeper Brian Murphy were sent off in either half, saw their lead at the top of the Premier Division table cut to just one point when sensationally beaten by basement club Bray Wanderers at Dalymount Park last night.

It was only Bray’s fifth win in 26 league games this season but will have boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation even though they stay anchored at the bottom of the table.

It was a night when nothing went right for Bohemians with Deegan sent off on 23 minutes and then ’keeper Brian Murphy given his marching orders on 70 minutes by referee Anthony Buttimer.

Deegan was shown a yellow card for a foul on John Flood but Buttimer then controversially changed that to a red and an automatic sending off when the player protested about the decision.

Three minutes later the champions were rocked when a great midfield ball by Seagulls midfielder Dave Mulcahy put striker Flood in the clear. He shrugged off the attentions of two Bohemians defenders before rifling a shot past Murphy from 16 yards for his first league goal of the season.

Keeper Murphy became the second Bohemians player to be sent off on 70 minutes when he took down Flood in full flight in the box chasing a pass from Gary McCabe. Substitute Matt Gregg took over in goal but his first act was to pick the ball out of the net as McCabe cracked home the resulting penalty.

Even reduced to nine men, Bohemians refused to throw in the towel and substitute Glen Crowe fired home an 89th minute consolation goal after a cross by Killian Brennan.

BOHEMIANS: B Murphy; Rossiter, Oman (Gregg 70), Shelley, Powell; A.Murphy (Crowe 76), Deegan, Keegan, Ndo; Fenn (Brennan 59), Byrne.

BRAY WANDERERS: OConnor; Pender, Deans, Foran, Cronin (Mulroy 76); McCabe (Doyle 87), Shields, Mulcahy, Massey; Kelly, Flood (ONeill 82).

Referee: Anthony Buttimer(Cork).