ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC moved six points clear at the top of the Airtricity League Premier Division table after a 3-1 win over Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds.
Having seen off fellow title contenders Dundalk at Richmond Park last weekend, the Saints knew they had the chance to put some breathing space between themselves and the Lilywhites tonight.
Man-of-the-match Anto Flood was the first to find the back of the net on 37 minutes when he got onto the end of a Killian Brennan pass to fire past Darren Quigley.
After the break, a superb move ended in John Russell heading home Ian Bermingham’s cross after good work from Flood in the build-up.
The Seagulls, second from bottom in the table and in need of points, did pull one back through striker Ismahil Akinade with seven minutes on the clock and Brendan Clarke then had to be at his best to pull off a brilliant save from John Mulroy’s goalbound effort.
However, deep in injury time, substitute Christy Fagan made sure of the result when he rifled in a third from the edge of the Bray box.
“We gifted them a goal and let them back into it,” Saints manager Liam Buckley told Setanta Sports.
“Bray dug in and only for Brendan Clarke would have had another goal. It was a world class save. We got the three points so we’re happy but there’s still four games to go.”
