Ger Pender scored for the third match running as Bray Wanderers maintained their terrific current form to trounce Sligo Rovers 4-0 for the second time this season in their SSE Airtricity League Premier Division meeting at the Carlisle Grounds.
Tim Clancy returned to Bray’s defence in one of two changes to Harry Kenny’s line-up from their win at Longford Town last week. Jason Marks also started having replaced the injured John Sullivan at City Calling Stadium.
Sligo also made two switches from their last outing in losing 1-0 at home to champions Dundalk. Regan Donelon, out since mid-July, made a welcome return at left-back while John Russell replaced the ill Kieran Sadlier in midfield.
Sligo were first to threaten in a tight opening with Jimmy Keohane failing to control Achille Campion’s return pass 10 minutes in.
But it was Bray who broke the deadlock from their first corner on 15 minutes.
Skipper Conor Kenna headed on Karl Moore’s delivery for Pender who reacted smartly to stab home from close range.
The goal settled Bray down as they grew to dominate, Sligo’s frustration resulting in yellow cards for Russell and Donelon.
A flowing move might have brought further joy to Bray on 31 minutes. Campion lost possession with Hugh Douglas eventually crossing from the right for Moore to set up Mark Salmon who sliced his shot well wide.
With Sligo struggling to offer much in the final third against the well-organised home defence, Bray remained in control and deservedly get a second goal three minutes before half-time.
Sligo skipper Gavin Peers unceremoniously upended Dylan Connolly to concede a free kick. Moore floated the deal ball into the area where teenage midfielder Darragh Noone drifted in to sweep it almost nonchalantly to the net with his right foot to score for the second week running.
The Bit o’ Red had more about them on the resumption, finally getting their first shot on target six minutes in.
Daniel Kearns’s low cross from the right found Raff Cretaro whose strike was well saved by Peter Cherrie.
Bray relieved the pressure with a 62nd minute corner when they thought they’d gone further ahead. Sligo defender Michael Leahy shot the ball into his own net, but the referee had blown for a foul as Moore’s corner came across.
Though they enjoyed much of the ball in the second half, Sligo’s hopes of getting back into the game were dealt a blow on 72 minutes when Donelon, booked for a foul on Connolly in the first half, repeated the misdemeanour to receive a second yellow card and was sent off.
It was all over for Sligo five minutes later when they conceded a soft third goal.
Peers failed to clear Kenna’s long ball and his mistake was clinically punished when Andrew Lewis lobbed to the net from the edge of the area.
Fellow substitute Sean Harding added Bray’s fourth goal on 89 minutes with a stunning strike form distance that flew in off a post.
Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Hugh Douglas (Sean Harding 85), Conor Kenna, Tim Clancy, Kevin Lynch; Mark Salmon; Jason Marks (Alan Kehoe 79), Darragh Noone, Karl Moore, Dylan Connolly; Ger Pender (Andrew Lewis 75).
Sligo Rovers: Micheal Schlingermann; Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Gavin Peers, Michael Leahy (Gary Boylan 64), Regan Donelon; Daniel Kearns, Jimmy Keohane, John Russell, Liam Martin; Raffaele Cretaro, Achille Campion.
Referee: Ben Connolly (Dublin)
