Bray claimed to their biggest win of the season as they inflicted more misery on rock-bottom Galway.

The win ended the Seagulls five-game losing streak at the Carlisle
Grounds and extended United's record-breaking run to 20 consecutive Premier Division defeats.

But from the Seasiders point of view, the biggest statistic is that
the result means that they are assured of top-flight football for 2012.

Pat Devlin rung the changes for the Wicklow side beaten by Drogheda, with no less than six players coming into Wanderers' starting 11.

Darren Quigley, Shane O'Connor, Derek Prendergast, Graham Kelly, Chris Shields and Shane O'Neill all started.

That saw Daire Doyle, Dane Massey, John Mulroy and Conor Murphy drop to the bench with no place in the panel for Matt Gregg or the injured Gary Dempsey.

As for the Tribesmen, they only made two changes following their 3-0 defeat at home to Derry City with Eric Holland and Victor Collins coming in.

United's luck in a dreadful season was summed up after just two
minutes when central defender Laurence Gaughan's lunging tackle on Bray full-back Shane O'Connor left referee Anthony Buttimer with no option but to produce a red card.

And it took the Seagulls just until the 12th minute to make the most of their numerical advantage.

Chris Shields measured reverse pass put Dean Zambra in behind Eric Holland on the right flank to zip a low ball across the box.

Galway keeper Conor Winn could only parry which set up the unmarked Jake Kelly at the back post and the winger converted from six yards.

Having taken the lead, the Wicklow side should have doubled their lead in the 20th minute.

Shields' delivery off the right flank was left by Danny O'Connor but Zambra failed to take the close-range chance by scuffing his
volley into the ground and wide.

Yet, the visitors squandered a great opportunity to equalise early in the second half.

Jin Gu Kim played in Victor Collins in the 51st minute. However, the former Salthill Devon striker was denied by custodian Darren Quigley with a block save on his return to first team action.

Sean Connor's men were punished for that miss five minutes later.

A quick throw-in along the left wing allowed Jake Kelly time to send over a pin-point cross where the in-rushing Danny O'Connor powered a bullet header to the roof of the net.

The floodgates opened after that as Shane O'Neill registered his first goal since October 2010.

Derek Prendergast released substitute Marty Waters, who was making his debut, and the forward played the ball back on the left side of of the box to O'Neill who struck a stunning shot with the outside of his right boot that crashed to the net in off the post.

Then in the 85th minute, Wanderers made it 4-0. A short Kevin Knight corner allowed Zambra to guide a cross to the back stick where Prendergast powered in a header from four yards.

Bray Wanderers: Darren Quigley; Shane O'Connor, Adam Mitchell (Marty Waters 61 mins), Derek Prendergast, Sean Houston; Dean Zambra, Graham Kelly, Danny O'Connor (Kevin Knight 71 mins), Chris Shields, Jake Kelly (John Mulroy 80 mins); Shane O'Neill.
Subs not used: Daire Doyle, Dane Massey, Conor Murphy, Brian Kane.

Galway United: Conor Winn; Evan Preston Kelly, Eric Browne, Laurence Gaughan, Eric Holland (Mikey Gilmore 61 mins); Jin Lu Kim, Paul Sinnott, Gary Kelly, Stephen Walsh (Ronan Cauldwell 82 mins); Alan Murphy, Victor Collins (Eduardo Dusi 61 mins).
Subs not used: Oscar Sibanda, Ger Cheevers.

Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork).