Finn Harps 2-1 Bray Wanderers
Finn Harps put clear daylight between themselves and Wexford Youths in the race to avoid the relegation play-off spot as they beat Bray Wanderers 2-1 at Finn Park.
Sean Houston netted a goal in either half to send Harps into the ascendancy during a tight encounter. Bray substitute Dean Kelly halved the advantage 16 minutes from time, but the Ballybofey men held on for a first win in eleven games.
The result now sees Harps sit eight points ahead of Youths with four games each to play.
Harps midfielder Gareth Harkin made his 100th appearance for the Donegal side on the night and was involved early on during an open first half. Causing problems from set pieces, the home side almost took the lead on six minutes against an uncomfortable looking Bray defence.
Harkin's corner from the right caused panic in the Wanderers area but Houston was unfortunate to see his header drop short of the back post before drifting to safety.
Harps were rewarded for their early endeavour as they deservedly took the lead on 12 minutes.
Ethan Boyle was fouled five-yards from the end line before Houston bridged a gap of almost three months as he rose highest to head home Adam Hanlon's floated free-kick from the left.
After a brief spell of dominance from Bray, Harps went close once to extending their advantage on the counter on the half hour mark. Harkin and Barry Molloy combined to find Ryan Curran whose shot on the turn was well held by Peter Cherrie in the Bray goal.
The Scot was called into action once more in the second minute of stoppage time at the end of the half when he pushed away Molloy's drive from the edge of the penalty area.
Harps went within the depth of the crossbar from doubling their advantage five minutes into the second half. Hanlon's hard work providing Curran with the chance to volley at goal from six yards. The ball however took a touch off an alert Bray defender before looping on to the top of the crossbar with Cherrie stranded.
Bray's Kelly snatched at Karl Moore's cross just past the hour as Harry Kenny's side continued to work their way back into the tie.
The task in hand was made considerably tougher on 68 minutes however as Ollie Horgan's troops doubled their lead. Michael Funston's throw in was nodded on by Keith Cowan before Houston arrived at the front post to divert the ball into the corner of the net.
Bray did give themselves a fighting chance just six minutes later as Kelly made the most of a Gallagher mishap. The keeper coming to meet Kevin Lynch's cross but failing to make contact before Kelly was left with a relatively simple finish to halve the deficit.
The Wicklow men were denied what looked like a stonewall penalty in the 90th minute when Harps captain Ciaran Coll looked to have tripped Dylan Connolly just yards from the Harps goal. Referee Paul McLaughlin took his time to weight up his options before awarding Harps a goal-kick.
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Ethan Boyle, Keith Cowan, Damien McNulty, Ciaran Coll; Michael Funston (Josh Mailey 69), Gareth Harkin, Sean Houston, Barry Molloy, Adam Hanlon (Tony McNamee 84); Ryan Curran (BJ Banda 95).
Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Hugh Douglas, Conor Kenna, Tim Clancy, Kevin Lynch; Karl Moore, John Sullivan, Mark Salmon (Ryan Brennan 60), Darragh Noone (Chris Lyons 84), Dylan Connolly; Ger Pender (Dean Kelly 60).
Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
