Bohemians 2-0 Bray Wanderers

A first goal of the season for captain Kevin Hunt and a brilliant second from Stephen Rice maintained Bohemians' unbeaten home record as they moved back up to third in the table.

Bray weren't overawed and came to play, giving the small crowd an interesting spectacle of a game as both sides passed the ball well on the very wet surface.

Bohs created the first opening on six minutes when Neale Fenn deftly flicked on Des Byrne's throw for Rice who was narrowly over with a first time shot from 20 yards.

A quick free from Stephen Fox soon caught Bohs napping at the other end as Gary McCabe skipped by Owen Heary and Liam Burns only to shoot straight at Brian Murphy in the Bohs goals.

Glen Crowe appeared in on goal on 20 minutes from another incisive Fenn pass, but he dallied and his weak shot was easily saved by Steve Williams.

But Bohs were on top now and Crowe found himself in behind the Bray back four on 28 minutes from Heary's ball over the top to orchestrate their opening goal.

Crowe initially tried to tee up for a shot but opted instead to cross for the inrushing Kevin Hunt to force the ball home from just yards out.

Bray were the better side in the second half as they chased the game.

Central defender Clive Delaney might have done better than get the merest of touches to glance Alan Calwey's corner well wide on 64 minutes.

Minutes later a mistake by Heary appeared to have James O'Shea in on goal, but the winger tripped over his own feet and the opportunity was lost.

Cawley then almost caught out Murphy from a clever free-kick before Bohs struck on the break to seal their win with a second goal on 76 minutes.

There appeared little on when the ball dropped to Rice some 20 yards from goal but his improved lob, with his back to Steve Williams, outfoxed the Bray 'keeper to drop in behind him for a spectacular strike.

Murphy made another good save to deprive McCabe late on as bray's hard work counted for nothing.

Bohemians: Murphy; O. Heary, Burns (T. Heary, 68), Pooley, Powell; Harkin (Rossiter, 61), Hunt, Rice, Byrne; Crowe, Fenn (Mansaram, 73).

Bray Wanderers: Williams; Gough (Dunphy, 76), Delaney, Deans, Cronin; O'Shea, Cawley, Duggan (Hurley, 84), McCabe; Fox (Kavanagh, 60), Georgescu.

Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin).