First Division round-up: City extend lead as UCD held in Cobh

Cork City's cushion atop the First Division table was padded out to 13 points thanks to an edgy 1-0 victory over Bray Wanderers in front of 2,026 fans at Turner’s Cross.

Having signed off for the mid-season break with their best performance of the year, City produced a sloppy display on their return. Evan McLaughlin’s winner arrived against the run of play and they had to rely on some magnificent Brad Wade saves to bank the three points.

His 14th clean sheet combined with UCD’s 2-2 draw down the road in Cobh ensured City’s route back to the top tier continues without any major resistance.

Exciting winger Malik Dijksteel earned his first start of the season as Tim Clancy made three changes following their summer holiday. Barry Coffey and Josh Fitzpatrick were also introduced, while teenage talent Cathal O’Sullivan appeared off the bench after a month out injured.

City had buried Bray in their previous two encounters with a pair of goals inside 15 minutes. The last meeting preceded Ian Ryan’s surprise resignation and the visitors arrived under the interim management of Lorcan Fitzgerald and Paul Heffernan. The Seagulls’ task was clear: start fast.

They almost achieved that objective in spectacular style. From a Kieran Cruise cross, Cristian Magerusan’s spinning flick looked destined to dip under the crossbar but Wade stretched back a big hand to tip over.

Then Darren Craven beat Charlie Lyons to a dropping ball to race in on goal. His ricocheted shot bounced over Wade but Cian Coleman got back to clear off the line.

Magerusan came close again in the 20th minute. He outjumped Lyons to Callum Thompson’s deflected cross and his header drew gasps from the crowd as it landed just wide.

It was a bolt from the blue, then, when City broke