Wanderers unbeaten run ended by Students

First Division

Belfield
03 Sep 2021

Bray Wanderers nine match unbeaten league run came to an end against fellow play off contenders UCD. Bray found themselves four goals down on 63 minutes before substitute Gary Shaw scored a hat trick in the final 14 minutes of play.

Wanderers were without four first team regulars in Brian Maher (international duty Ireland u21s) and the suspended trio of Dylan Barnett, Conor Clifford and Richie O’Farrell. Kian Clarke made his first appearance of the season in goal while Mark Byrne, Ryan Graydon and Luka Lovic all came into the starting team from the team that started with Shelbourne a fortnight ago..

The home side took the lead on 4 minutes when Harvey O’Brien side footed home from close range following a free kick. Six minutes later, the students doubled their lead when Wanderers failed to clear a from a corner and Sam Todd scored from close range.

Darren Craven forced Williams into a save on 25 minutes with a powerful volley from just outside the box which the keeper palmed away. A minute later, Brandon Kavanagh fired narrowly wide from long range. Five minutes before the break, Joe Doyle fired a shot which Williams failed to hold but Craven put the rebound wide.

Paul Doyle had two efforts on the Bray goal at the start of the second half. Firstly, Kian Clarke had to turn his shot around the post for a corner. Then another shot was deflected out for a corner. The home side increased their lead just before the hour mark when Doyle fed Kerrigan who shot past Clarke. Eoin Farrell added a fourth for the student son 62 minutes.

Gary Shaw pulled a goal back for Wanderers on 82 minutes.  Shaw then scored a second before Wanderers were awarded a penalty five minutes into added time. Shaw completed his hat trick from the spot to leave a flattering score line for Wanderers

UCD: 16 Carl Williams; 21 Paul Doyle, 3 Evan Osam, 7 Liam Kerrigan, 15 Adam Verdon, 8 Mark Dignam, 17 Dara Keane, 22 Sam Todd (c) , 14 Eoin Farrell , 24 Harvey O’Brien , 2 Michael Gallagher
Subs: 4 Harry McEvoy, 5 Luke Boore, 9 Danú Kinsella-Bishop, 11 Ciaran Behan, 19 Samuel Ayoola, 20 Mark Smith, 23 Donal Higgins, 27 Seán Brennan (for Farrell 78), 30 Lennon Gill (gk)

Bray Wanderers: 25 Kian Clarke; 8 Mark Byrne, 4 Andrew Quinn, 5 Aaron Barry (c), 7 Ryan Graydon, 9 Joe Doyle, 11 Brandon Kavanagh, 16 Darren Craven, 17 Luka Lovic, 15 Daniel Jones, 27 Callum Thompson
Subs: 2 Sam Hayden, 10 Gary Shaw (for Graydon 61), 18 Sean Callan (for Quinn 75), 19 Darragh Lynch, 20 Jamie Callaghan, 21 Ryan Bowden, 22 Steven Kinsella (for Kavanagh 75), 28 Sam Verdon (for Thompson 61), 30 Cian Connors (gk)

Referee: Oliver Moran

match report: Michael Duffy

Pictures: Peter Minogue