Bray Wanderers (U19) 4 Kerry League (U19) 3
A Darragh Lynch hat-trick paved the way for Bray to record their third U19 EA Sports National Underage League home win in a row. Level on points with Kerry before kick-off on Sunday afternoon at Ballycorus, Wanderers led 3-1 at the interval before claiming victory by the odd goal in seven.
It did not take the Wicklow side long to hit the front. With nine minutes gone, Vilius Labutis disguised his pass to slip Cillian Melwani off of the right wing to fire a finish time drive from 12-yards to the net. It took just 70 more seconds to make it 2-0. This time, Melwani turned provider with a right-wing cross. Lynch gathered and corrected his feet to roll the ball in from ten-yards.It became 3-0 in the 35th minute. Ugo Anny Nzekwue and Conor McManus linked on the left flank. Sean McLean then threaded a pass to Lynch. The striker created space to curl to the far corner of the net. But the visitors pulled one back through Daniel Okwute four minutes later.
Bray restored their three-goal cushion in the 57th minute. After being found by Ben Clarke, McLean measured a superb ball over the top to pick out Lynch just outside the six-yard area. He controlled and poked in low with a right-footed finish. The away team pulled one back in the 62nd minute through Okwute. They then made it 4-3 in the 65th minute when Alain Beaujouan scrambled in after a corner. A highlight of the game was the late introduction of Ben Feeney who made his first appearance of the 2022 campaign after injury. The Seagulls don’t have to wait long to return to Ballycorus.
They will entertain St. Patrick’s Athletic at the venue on Wednesday April with a 6.30pm kick-off.
Bray Wanderers: Kajus Aksamitas; Ben Houton, Jack Kehoe, Evan Laughlin, Conor McManus; Ben Clarke; Vilius Labutis, Sean McLean; Cillian Melwani, Ugo Anny Nzekwue; Darragh Lynch.
Subs: Gavin Doyle, Sam Hayden, Hayden Roche, Evan Harte, Josh McGlone, Jack Curran, Jamie Callaghan, Ben Feeney, Ben Clark (gk).
Pictures by Des O’Connor.
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