Drogheda United and Bray Wanderers both paid the price for poor finishing as their clash at United Park ended all square.
And a draw was about the right result, after the Boynesiders enjoyed the better of the first-half exchanges but found themselves under pressure in the second.
These sides are tipped by many to be fighting a battle against relegation this season, but Drogheda dominated the early exchanges and ought to have made their pressure count with a goal.
James Chambers blasted a 25-yard free-kick into Bray’s defensive wall in the ninth minute, and the home side’s claims for a penalty were waved away when John Paul Kelly went down following an innocuous-looking challenge by Dane Massey.
Then Kelly tested the Seagulls’ keeper Chris O’Connor with a curling free kick, and a snap shot from Robbie Martin, Drogheda’s sole striker, was similarly saved.
The visitors, who were playing into a stiff wind accompanied by intermittent rain, did not manage a single attempt at the Drogheda goal in the first 45 minutes, although their former player Gavin Whelan made a crucial block on Paul Byrne as the striker prepared to shoot in the 33rd minute.
Whatever Eddie Gormley said in the away dressing room at half time had an immediate impact, though, as Drogheda were pinned back in the opening stages of the second period. Dave Mulcahy’s long-range shot flew narrowly wide and then centre-half Derek Foran somehow headed Dane Massey’s corner over from inside the six-yard box.
Almost immediately, Drogheda created their best chance when substitute Robbie Farrell put Kelly clean through on goal, but the former Bohs player’s attempted chip failed to trouble O’Connor who plucked the ball out of the air with ease.
But Steve Williams in the Drogheda goal produced a fine reaction save to deny Gary McCabe following a fine individual run from the young winger, and in the 89th minute Bray sub Chris Shields shot against the crossbar as the visitors finished on top.
But in the fourth minute of stoppage time Drogheda almost nicked it as Paul Shiels’ just failed to get a touch to Chambers’ free kick.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Williams, Whelan, McNally, Kenna, R Clarke, Kelly, Chambers, Shiels, Duggan, O’Connor, Martin. Subs: Farrell for Martin (46min), Duffy for O’Connor (67min).
BRAY WANDERERS: O’Connor, Pender, Deans, Foran, Massey, Coughlan, Mulcahy, Doyle, McCabe, Kavanagh, Byrne. Subs: Forsyth for Byrne (67min), Shields for Coughlan (67min), Webster for Doyle (87min).
Referee: Tommy Connolly (Dublin).
