Bray could take little comfort out of making it hard for Derry City to hold their slender lead until the final whistle, ending their unbeaten home league run in the process and failing to score for the first time this season.
In windy conditions at the Carlisle Grounds - which made it near impossible for attractive football to be played - Alan Murphy scored the only goal of the game from 15 metres out in the 27th minute, latching on to a crossed pull back from Mark Farren deep in the left hand corner.
In the first minute of the second period, Bray might have levelled with a shot by captain Jody Lynch when Alan Kelly waved play on, seeing the advantage after Eamon Zayed, in possesion, had been tripped, but the defender shot narrowly left of David Forde's post.
On the hour mark, Bray were forced to concede a series of corners from defensive headers, but neither Farren, on the left, nor Cash on the right could make much of them.
As a result of the victory and Cork City's 2-2 draw at Waterford, Derry jump into second position on 19 points, while Wanderers remain sixth.
