A Tadgh Purcell double made sure it was a Great Friday for Shamrock Rovers by the seaside.
After bagging the goal in the midweek defeat to Bohemians, the striker made the most of two Bray Wanderers mistakes to give the Hoops their first away win of the season.
Under blistering sunshine in front of a 3,000 strong crowd at the Carlisle Grounds, the Dubliners took the lead in the seventh minute.
Gary Cronin’s attempted clearance was charged down by Derek Pender. Purcell reacted and burst onto the loose ball. He charged into the box and drove low under Steve Williams.
In a tight opening period, Bray lacked a cutting edge in attack without the injured Stephen Fox.
The only chance they created saw Paul Dunphy pounce down the left flank in the 26th minute. His initial cut-back was blocked and his follow-up was forced out for a corner by the covering Barry Ferguson.
Both teams struggled after the restart in the the hot conditions, and it wasn’t until the 65th minute that the away side threatened again. From David McGill’s floated delivery, Ger Rowe powered a ten-yard header over the cross-bar.
Wanderers finally kicked into action in the 71st minute. Ferguson, under pressure from Clive Delaney, headed narrowly wide of his own goal after a David Tyrrell free-kick.
But the points were sealed for Pat Scully’s team in the 80th minute.
Stephen Gough was caught in possession by Purcell who scampered through and slotted past the advancing Williams from 15 yards.
Bray Wanderers: Williams; Gough, Delaney, Derek Tyrrell, Cronin (Georgescu 67 mins); Cawley, Caffrey, Duggan, David Tyrrell; O’Shea (Deans 83 mins), Dunphy.
Shamrock Rovers: Murphy; O’Brien, Ferguson, Ryan, Clarke; Pender (Cassidy 79 mins), E. McGill, Barrett, D. McGill; Purcell, Rowe.
Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).
