New Oak Boys 0 Bray Wanderers 3
A professional performance on a sticky pitch saw Bray book their place in the Quarter Finals of the Leinster Senior Cup.
A home tie in the last eight against Shamrock Rovers now awaits the Seagulls following Sunday’s 3-0 away success over New Oak Boys.
A large crowd attended the last 16 tie at the Old Burrin Road venue. But the Wicklow side dominated from kick-off against the Carlow Junior League champions.
A debut goal by new Spanish midfielder Guillermo Almirall in the first period coupled with second half debut scores by Ger Shortt and Conor Crowley in the second half sealed the win.
No less than seven first team debuts were handed out in the Seasiders starting line-up. Another three were made off the bench including underage winger Daniel Chukwu.
Having weathered an early storm by the hosts, Wanderers broke the dead-lock in the 33rd minute.
Ben Feeney gathered on the edge of the penalty area and laid the ball off to Almirall. He angled a 22-yard left-footed shot to the far bottom left corner of the net.
The hosts were dealt a temporary blow when skipper David O’Shea had to leave the pitch for a head injury in the 50th minute.
While he was receiving treatment, the visitors took full advantage against the ten-men to make it 2-0 in the 53rd minute.
Max Murphy burst from the right wing and delivered a deep cross. It fell to half time sub Len O’Sullivan on the left flank to send the ball back into the danger zone. It then rebounded to Shortt. His initial attempt hit Feeney. The ball came back to Shortt who made no mistake from 15-yards with a precise, low finish.
The Carlow outfit lost goalkeeper Surasak Yongram to injury in the 77th minute to be replaced by Owain Comerford.
Victory was rubber-stamped by the visitors in the 79th minute.
Sub Joe Power threaded a pass to Crowley just outside the box. He then slipped a slide-rule ball to Feeney 15-yards out. The striker’s effort was blocked by two challenging defenders. However, the ball rebounded over Comerford with the inrushing Crowley converting right on the goal-line.
New Oak Boys: Surasak Yongram; Dylan Keightley, David O’Shea, Owen McCormack, Cian Dowling; James McGrath, Adam McCarron, Jordan Harmon; Roy Byrne, Luke Ramsbottom; Jamie Murphy.
Subs: Cian Cleary (for Ramsbottom 55), Daryl Coleman (for McGrath 69), Owain Comerford (for Yongram 77), Cathal Gaffney (for Harmon 82), Adedmola Babawande, Lee Walker, Lee Murphy (all not used).
Booked: McGrath (17), Keightley (66), Harmon (70), McCormack (86).
Bray Wanderers: Alex Moody; Max Murphy, Jack Hudson, Cole Omorehiomwan, Dane Massey; Guillermo Almirall; Conor Crowley, Harry Groome; Ger Shortt, Callum Thompson; Ben Feeney.
Subs: Len O’Sullivan (for Massey half time), Luca Lovic (for Groome), Conor Knight (for Shortt) (both 59), Daniel Chukwu (for Thompson), Joe Power (for Almirall) (both 70), Zach Donoghue, Stephen McGuinness (both not used).
Booked: Massey (27).
Referee: David Connolly.