League Report: Sligo Rovers 0 - 0 Bray Wanderers

This will go down as a missed opportunity for both sides as Sligo Rovers and Bray Wanderers played out a 0-0 draw at the Showgrounds.

For Sligo, it will be looked upon as two points dropped at home and a missed chance to further distance themselves from the relegation battle their opponents are heavily involved in. For Bray, they passed up a golden opportunity to draw level on points with tenth placed Wexford Youths who themselves were beaten 1-0 (by Derry City) on the same night.

Johnny Russell had the first shot of note after four minutes, but his strike from 30 yards never looked like troubling Peter Cherrie in the Wanderers goal. Four minutes later, Dylan Connolly had Bray's first effort after cutting in from the left, but Micheal Schlingermann held onto the effort well.

After his early attempt, Russell was in the mood for the Bit O'Red. In the 34^th minute, he crossed for Jimmy Keohane who couldn't test Cherrie with his header. Three minutes later, Russell had another pop himself, again missing the target with a half-volley from the edge of the penalty area.

Just one shot on target from both sides in the first-half told its own story and it took until the 52^nd minute for their to be a second one – Keohane forcing Cherrie into his first save of the night with a low attempt at goal. 60 seconds later, Tobi Adebayo-Rowling teed up Kieran Sadlier who could only put his effort wide of the post.

It was Schlingermann's 150^th career appearance and the Sligo 'keeper needed to be alert to keep out Ryan Brennan in the 56^th minute. Bray striker Andrew Lewis could only put the follow-up wide of the target.

The second half was threatening to provide a goal, with Liam Martin beating two men on the right wing before shooting over the bar in the 60^th minute. Sadlier hit the wall with a free-kick attempt eight minutes later and Craig Roddan was next to have a pop for Sligo, his shot from distance on 75 minutes well held by Cherrie.

Bray weren't keen to just hold on for a point, though, with Connolly's swerving effort in the 77^th minute pushed away by Schlingermann. Play raced back up the other end and two minutes later substitute Phillip Roberts fired inches wide of Cherrie's post.

Sligo Rovers: Mícheál Schlingermann; Mick Leahy, Regan Donelon, Gary Boylan, Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Jimmy Keohane, Jordan Richards, Craig Roddan, John Russell, Kieran Sadlier (Jaanai Gordon, 80); Liam Martin (Philip Roberts, 69).

Subs not used: Ciaran Nugent (GK), Chris Lyons, Tim Clancy, Gary Armstrong, Michael Place.

Yellow Cards:  Richards (44), Russell (63), Adebayo-Rowling (64),  Roddan (71), Keohane (85).

Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Alan McNally, Conor Kenna, Sean Harding, Hugh Douglas; Mark Salmon, Karl Moore, Dylan Connolly, Ryan Brennan; Gareth McDonagh, Andrew Lewis (Dean Kelly, 78).

Subs not used: Aaron Shanahan (GK), Ger Pender, Jason Marks, Alan Byrne, Kieran Butler, Daniel Blackbyrne.

Yellow Cards: Douglas (16), Moore (26), McDonagh (38), Salmon (67),  Kenna (86).

Referee: Ray Matthews.

Attendance: 1,232.

Extratime Man of the Match: Michael Schlingermann (Sligo Rovers).