Bray Wanderers 2-1 Derry City

Bray showed why they are the only team to inflict an away league defeat upon Derry as Wanderers secured their top flight status for a record fifth season.

Already having beaten the League Cup champions last April, Eddie Gormley's men came from behind to dent City's UEFA Cup hopes.

The torrential weather conditions of wind and rain made it a lottery as players were continuously losing their footing.

Despite that, both clubs served up a cracking tie full of incident.

The Candystripes were gifted the opener after just 90 seconds.

After a fine sliding tackle by Derek Foran, Wanderers tried a passing movement just outside their box.

Gavin Whelan played a back-pass to Alan Gough by Mark Farren nipped in, round the keeper and slotted into an empty net for his 11th league goal of the campaign.

But the Seagulls should have been level by the 11th minute.

Alan Cawley's free led to a bout of head tennis. It came back to Cawley to fed Ger Rowe whose chip saw Gareth Coughlan beat the offside. But the winger's lob beat Gerard Doherty but dropped wide of the far post.

Wanderers were back on level terms in the 18th minute.

Philip Knight's home debut was ended by injury. That saw Colm Tresson brought on.

And Bray's record appearance holder rose to power in a Alan Cawley free-kick from four yards for his 72nd in goal in a Green and White shirt.

It got even better for the Wicklow side as they went in front four minutes later.

Ger Rowe chased down a long clearance and appeared to bundle Eddie McCallion over. Referee Mark Gough let play continue and the striker's 12-yard shot went in off a post despite Doherty getting a hand to the ball.

There was a sensational start to the second period.

Gough awarded Finn Harps a disputed penalty last month at the same venue.

And the Limerick official was the centre of controversy again in the 48th minute.

He adjudged Derek Pender had handled Niall McGinn's shot.

But Sammy Morrow blasted the spot-kick off the cross-bar.

Derry were denied by woodwork again in the 69th minute. After Cawley had fouled McGinn, Kevin Deery's 20-yard dead-ball smashed off the bar.

Kevin McHugh was unlucky not to equalise in the dying stages.

His 84th minute volley found the side netting while the sub was thwarted by a brilliant Gough fingertip save seconds later.

Bray Wanderers: Gough; Pender, Doherty, Foran, Knight (Tresson 11 mins); Coughlan (Kelly 73 mins), Cawley, Whelan, Duggan; Myler (Mulroy 82 mins), Rowe.

Derry City: Doherty; McCallion, Delaney, McChrystal, Gray; McGinn, Dennehy (McHugh 62 mins), Molloy, Deery (Martyn 76 mins); Morrow (Stewart 76 mins), Farren.

Referee: Mark Gough (Limerick).