Bray Wanderers 2 Drogheda United 1
Premier Division, Carlisle Grounds, 18 August 2017.
Wanderers made two changes to the starting X1 from the team that drew in Sligo in mid-week. Kevin Lynch returned at left back with Karl Moore moving into midfield.to replace Ger Pender and Darragh Noone replaced Mark Salmon in midfield.
The visitors started the better and were almost gifted an early goal on eight minutes. A mix up between Peter Cherrie and Conor Kenna gifted the ball to Mulhall. His shot was blocked on the line by Kenna and came back to him. Kenna was forced to block on the line again.
Drogheda went close again when Mulhall fired narrowly wide of the left-hand post. On the half hour mark, a good Bray move resulted in Kane blocking a Ryan Brennan shot for a corner.
On 36 minutes, Gary McCabe’s free kick forced McGuinness into making a save. A minute later, Wanderers took the lead. Kevin Lynch’s corner was headed home by Hugh Douglas. On the stroke of half time Mulhall’s free kick for Drogheda came back off the post.
Wanderers doubled their lead four minutes into the second half. McCabe was brought down on the edge of the box. Aaron Greene curled the resultant free kick over the ball into the top left corner, with McGuinness rooted to his line.
Drogheda pulled a goal back on 67 minutes. A free kick broke loose in the Bray area and fell to Mulhall who scored. A melee then erupted in the aftermath of the goal as Cherrie held onto the ball. Cherrie and
In the final minute of stoppage time, Drogheda almost equalised from a corner. Byrne’s inswinging corner was headed over by Elworthy.
In stoppage time Wanderers introduced sixteen-year old substitute Jake Ellis who became Bray Wanderers youngest ever player in the league of Ireland aged sixteen years and five months.
Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Hugh Douglas, Tim Clancy, Conor Kenna, Kevin Lynch, Karl Moore; Darragh Noone, John Sullivan; Ryan Brennan, Gary McCabe, Aaron Greene;
Subs: Mark Salmon (for Noone 69), Jason Marks (for Moore 85), Jake Ellis (for Lynch 90), Jamie Aherne, Ger Pender, Lee Steacy (gk)
Drogheda United: Stephen McGuinness; Shane Elworthy, Stephen Dunne, David Mulcahy, Conor Kane; Adam Wixted, Richie Purdy, Jake Hyland, Jack Bayly, Sean Russell, Chris Mulhall.
Subs: Thomas Byrne (for Hyland 61), Ryan Masterson (for Wixted 80), Mark Doyle (for Russell 84), Luke Gallagher, Lloyd Buckley, Harry Hogan, Ryan McEvoy.
Referee: Ben Connolly.
Attendance: 558.
Match Report: Michael Duffy
