BRAY WANDERERS survived a late scare on Friday night to book their place in the last eight of the FAI Cup for the second year in a row. The Seagulls terrible twosome of Shane O'Neill and Jake Kelly had earlier fired the visitors into a three-goal lead, but the Wicklow club looked set to hit the self-destruct button in the final seven minutes of the match, allowing UCD striker Ciarán Kilduff to net twice in three minutes to set up a grandstand finish.

Thankfully from a Bray point of view though the seasiders were able to hold on, avoiding a replay and ensuring that their name was in the hat for Monday's quarter-final draw.

And it was no less than the Carlisle Grounds side deserved after dominating for long periods of the game.

After seeing Greg Bolger come extremely close to giving UCD an early lead with a well-struck 25 yard free-kick, the visitors struck back with a chance of their own through Danny O'Connor. David Webster's right wing cross was flicked on at the near post by Danny O'Connor and the midfielder was denied his first goal in Bray colours by Andy Boyle, who headed O'Connor's effort off the line.

Boyle was powerless to prevent his side from falling behind though just four minutes later. Jake Kelly's free-kick was headed beyond the UCD backline by left back Seán Houston and Shane O'Neill reacted quickest, poking the ball past Ger Barron from ten yards with ice cool precision.

Wanderers' top scorer was desperately unlucky not to double his tally three minutes later. Gary Dempsey's through ball released the striker and despite having his marker clambering all over him, referee Dave McKeon allowed play to continue and his decision was almost brilliantly justified when O'Neill's low effort clipped the foot of the far post before trickling out for a goalkick.

Bray's search for a second then saw Houston pop up with a chance, driving over the crossbar and after being set up by Danny O'Connor.

Martin Russell's side weren't enjoying being penned back in their own half and Matt Gregg was soon called into action, plucking Kilduff's looping header out of the sky after the striker had been found by David O'Connor's deep cross.

Bray's assault on the UCD goal soon continued though and Shane O'Neill once again found himself one-on-one with Barron in the 27th minute. The 21-year-old clipped the ball past the ' keeper but Andy Boyle got back in the nick of time to clear off the line for the second time of the evening.

Poor old Barron still had more work to do before half-time, pulling off a top class save in the 43rd minute to keep out Dean Zambra's header that seemed destined for the top corner.

The hairdryer treatment was no doubt unveiled for the disheartened home side at half-time but a contender for goal of the season from Jake Kelly nine minutes after the restart made Russell's uphill task that bit harder.

Kelly scampered after a Shane O'Connor punt and spotted Barron slightly off his line before unleashing an unerring first time effort that dipped majestically into the far corner of the net from all of 30 yards out.

And Kelly wasn't finished there. With just over 20 minutes remaining, a surging run from right back Dave Webster saw him collect the ball before firing in a cross towards the edge of the box, where Kelly arrived in the nick of time to lash home a controlled volley and put one foot in the last eight.

But the Bray players proceeded to set up a nerve-jangling final ten minutes for the large travelling group of supporters.

On 83 minutes, Graham Rusk deftly flicked the ball into Kilduff's path in the area and the number nine managed to squeeze the ball past Gregg.

And Gregg was picking the ball out of the back of his net again two minutes later when Chris Mulhall found Kilduff with his low cross and Kilduff hammered it home to set up an extremely tense finish.

But Bray survived and march on into the next round.

Top Form: Jake Kelly (Bray Wanderers): Two cracking goals. Brilliantly taken.

- DANIEL GORMAN