Dundalk's quest for a European spot was badly hit at Oriel Park on Tuesday night as basement club Bray Wanderers held out for a priceless point.
The home side missed a great chance to open their account after just 90 seconds. Chris Turner, Dundalk's hero in their thrilling 4-3 win against Sligo on Saturday, latched on to Darren Mansaram's pass but the midfielder could only fire over from eight-yards
Bray's first effort of the night came in the 8th minute when Dave Webster fired a free-kick wide from 30-yards. The centre-back tried his luck again from distance shortly after with the same result.
Sean Connor's side struggled to open the league's bottom side up in the opening stages but Alex Williams went agonisingly close with a good effort in the 20th minute that floated just wide of Chris O'Connor's post.
It signalled the beginning of a spell of domination by the Louth club.
Williams had the ball in the net on the half-hour mark following a swift counter attack by the Lilywhites. Darren Mansaram set Tiarnan Mulvenna away on the left. His cross-cum-shot found Williams sniffing in the six-yard box but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Mulvenna hit the angle of crossbar and post with a delightful chip two minutes later as Sean Connor's side turned the screw. Williams then toe poked straight at O'Connor from close range before Paul McAreavey beat the Bray goalkeeper but not Chris Deans on the line.
They were handed a golden opportunity to go ahead right on the stroke of half-time when referee Tommy Connolly adjudged Daire Doyle to have fouled Mansaram from a McAreavey corner. Turner, who had already scored five times from the spot this season, stepped up but O'Connor got down brilliantly to tip the ball away to his right.
Former Linfield man McAreavey dictated play from the centre of the park for Dundalk and he came within inches of scoring again in the 50th minute with a glancing header from Simon Kelly's long throw.
The game completely lost all flow from then on but Eddie Gormley's side almost snatched a goal in the 67th minute when Gary McCabe danced past three defenders only to lift his shot over the bar.
Dundalk threw everything forward in the dying minutes and they almost got their reward when Williams smacked an effort against the post with just four minutes remaining.
Dundalk: 20 Peter Cherrie; 15 Michael Coburn, 6 Liam Burns, 19 Simon Kelly, 11 Michael McGowan; 16 Michael Daly (4 Mickey Collins 56 mins), 8 Chris Turner, 14 Paul McAreavey, 7 Tiarnan Mulvenna (3 Kevin McKinlay 77 mins); 9 Darren Mansaram; 10 Alex Williams.
Unused Substitutes: 6 Thomas Heary, 17 James Creaney, 1 Chris Bennion
Booked: McAreavey 15, Burns 44.
Bray Wanderers: 1 Chris O'Connor; 3 Daire Doyle, 4 Dave Webster, 5 Chris Deans, 2 Derek Pender; 7 Gareth Coughlan (12 Dane Massey 56 mins), 6 Dave Mulcahy, 8 Chris Shields, 11 Gary McCabe; 10 John Flood (16 Ian McNeill 75 mins), 9 Shane O'Neill (John Mulroy 56 mins).
Unused substitutes: 15 Dave O'Neill, 25 Brian Kane.
Booked: Doyle 44, McCabe 85.
Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin)
