Bray Wanderers stay top of the First Division promotion race on goal difference when an early second half goal from Irish Under 21 international Eamon Zayed earned them a deserved 1-1 draw against closest challengers Dublin City at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday night.
Elsewhere, Athlone beat Mongahan United 1-0 and Finn Harps hammered Cobh Ramblers 5-0.
A determined City side took a shock lead after just 63 seconds when a long thow-in on the left by Robbie Dunne bounced in the six yard box and a flick on by striker Keith Maher struck the bar only for Eddie Gormley's attempted clearance to rebound off his back into his own net.
And it was the visitors who almost added to their tally on 17 minutes after a quick free-kick by veteran defender Tony O'Connor put Maher in the clear. Bray 'keeper Chris O'Connor delayed and Maher fired against the upright with defender Colm Tresson fortunate to make a clearance at the second attempt.
Midfielder Barry Burke had one long range effort from 25 yards well saved by Bray 'keeper O'Connor on 44 minutes as the Whitehall men continued to dominate a surprising one-sided first half.
But it was the resurgent Seagulls who were level two minutes after the interval when City's Wesley Byrne lost possession in midfield and Robbie McGuinness was able to thread a pefect pass through to striker Eamon Zayed to shoot home from a narrow angle on the right.
City should really have regained the lead five minutes later when a cross from Dunne was fired into the side-netting by Maher with the goal at his mercy. Then, with play swinging from end to end, Zayed hooked a ball over the bar from a diificult angle.
Alan O'Connor went close for City with a shot on the turn only for 'keeper O'Connor to finger-nail the ball away for a corner. Maher then headed over after a clever cross from defender O'Connor as the Dublin side kept up the pressure.
Despite all their late pressure Bray could find no way past a stubborn City defence although Zayed might have made better use of a clear opening created by midfielder McGuinness on 79 minutes when shooting just wide of the target.
Teams:
Bray Wanderers: Chris O'Connor; Long, Tresson, Charles, M.Farrell; McGuinness, James, Gormley, Forsyth; Zayed, Fox.
Subs: Flood for Forsyth (72 mins.), O'Brien for Fox (83 mins.),
Dublin City: Horgan; T.O'Connor, Griffin, McAuley, W.Byrne; R.Dunne, Burke. Crowley,Clarke; Maher, A.O'Connor.
Subs: Cathal O'Connor for Burke (67 mins.), Collins for A.O'Connor (87 mins.), R.Farrell for Maher (88 mins.).
