IN TIMES of trouble, St Patrick's can always turn to Eddie Gormley. Right on cue, to the demands of his adoring young following in the shed end, Gormley extricated the home team from another Richmond Park draw of their own making with an 87th minute free-kick.

It procured St Patrick's an unlikely rarity this season, back-to-back home wins, thereby propelling them to their loftiest heights this season, third place - albeit for a day. It may not have, seemed particularly priceless at the time, yet it could be the difference of St Patrick's dipping their bread in next season's European gravy train.

The irony of it all will not have been lost on Bray. They had gamely stuck to their task in grabbing what seemed at least a temporary Premier Division lifeline with an equaliser four minutes before Gormley's goal. Yet another late goal - and by their most famous protege effectively condemned them to relegation. It's been the story of their season, 10 goals from, the 85th minute on costing them in the region of 11 points.

Yet, in an increasingly disjointed game, it was appropriate that Gormley delivered the decisive strike. In a congested midfield

Pat Dolan opted for a 4-5-1 formation, he was the most adept at finding team-mates or breaking free, running the legs off Tommy Gill, who was deputed to man-mark him, until the youngster was given a breather when Justin Dullon was brought on to patrol Gormley.

Chances came regularly enough on a pristine surface, St Patrick's looking the more fluid and potent side.

For all the good intentions, if not good deliveries, a set-piece broke the deadlock after 35 minutes; Glynn heading a Trevor Croly corner against an unmarked far post for Paul Campbell to convert the rebound.

St Patrick's lost their way in the second period. Their passing broke down, and their own players had to separate Gormley and Keith Long from a potentially nasty exchange.

After that, it got worse. The Bray youngsters gladly took up the invitation from a retreating St Patrick's, and pushed forward without undue menace. Nevertheless, you could see it coming, three or four home players losing possession when attempting to beat a man rather than move the ball on in the minutes building up to the 83rd-minute equaliser.

Glenn Brien headed the ball goalward through the inside right channel, Kieran O'Brien breaking free to slide the ball past Gareth Byrne against the far upright, Ray Kenny twisting smartly in mid-air to head home the rebound.

St Patrick's took up the struggle again, proving their lapse was as much mental as anything else, renewed pressure forcing Gill to handle 22 yards out. Gormley duly dispatching a low left-footed free through the wall and into the bottom corner.