Wanderers defeated in 8 goal thriller

Limerick FC 5 Bray Wanderers 3

Premier Division, Markets Field, 02 June 2017.

This game was Bray Wanderers fifth league game in the last fourteen days. Keith Buckley, Kevin Lynch and Darragh Noone all came back into the starting line up with Karl Moore, John Sullivan and Ger Pender dropping to the bench from the team that lost to Shamrock Rovers three days previous.

This game produced an eight-goal thriller with four goals in the opening 24 minutes. Both sides had early shots on goal. Ryan Brennan shot straight at Hall for the visitors while Tosi fired over at the other end for the home side.

Wanderers found themselves two down as Ogbene scored on 13 and 18 minutes. Firstly, he went past Conor Kenna and fired low past Cherrie. Then, he picked up a pass from Hery and went inside Lynch and Kenna before firing low to the Bray net.

Wanderers pulled a goal back within a minute. Ryan Brennan picked up the ball on the right just inside the area and curled the ball low into the net. Five minutes later, Wanderers were level on 24 minutes. Kevin Lynch’s corner was only cleared to Brennan who crossed for Aaron Greene to head home from close range.

Limerick regained the lead on 35 minutes. Clarke crossed for Tosi to head past Cherrie. Bray should have been level before the break when Connolly’s cross from the right is generic synthroid as good as brand found Greene at the back post but he delayed his shot and Hall turned it round the post.

Wanderers were awarded a penalty on 70 minutes when Ryan Brennan was brought down in the box. Gary McCabe scored from the resultant penalty.

On 80 minutes Brennan fed Connolly who put the ball past the advancing Clarke only to see it go inches wide. With three minutes remaining on the clock a Wanderers free kick broke down and Limerick attacked to earn a corner. The corner was only half-cleared and after O’Conor’s initial shot was blocked Hery fired low to the net through a crowded area.

A minute from time Clarke fired low past Cherrie to seal a home win.

Wanderers go into the mid-season break in fourth place in the Premier division.

Limerick FC: Freddie Hall, Shaun Kelly, Robert Williams, Thomas Robson; David O’Connor, Tony Whitehead; Paul O’Conor, Bastien Héry, Lee-J Lynch; Chiedozie Ogbene, Rodrigo Tosi. Subs: Shane Tracy (for Robson 50), Garbhán Coughlan, Ian Turner, Stephen Kenny, Dean Clarke (for Kelly 33), Chris Mulhall, Brendan Clarke (for Hall H/T)
Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Keith Buckley, Kevin Lynch, Conor Kenna, Tim Clancy, Mark Salmon, Darragh Noone, Gary McCabe, Ryan Brennan, Dylan Connolly; Aaron Greene. Subs: John Sullivan (for Salmon 64), Derek Foran, Anthony Flood, Karl Moore (for Lynch 64), Ger Pender, Hugh Douglas, Lee Steacy (gk).

Referee: Anthony Buttimer

Attendance: 1,447

Report: Michael Duffy