Wanderers hit for four by Wexford

First Division

Ferrycarrig Park
29 October 2021

Bray Wanderers slumped to a third successive league defeat and fifth league defeat in their last seven league games when bottom of the table Wexford FC earned a deserved win in this the final league game of the season.

Wanderers made six changes to the starting team from the one beaten in Galway last week. Dylan Barnett, Daniel Jones both returned to the starting team after injury. Brandon Kavanagh, Callum Thompson, Gary Shaw and Darren Craven all returned to start in place of Steven Kinsella, Sam Verdon, Ryan Graydon, Joe Doyle, Sean Callan (injured) and Mark Byrne (suspended).

Bray got off to the perfect start when Darren Craven won possession on the left and fed Brandon Kavanagh who curled allow shot to the net from the edge of the area. Wexford almost drew level three minutes later. Daniel Dobbin’s shot forced Maher into turning it around the post. Kyle Robinson saw his shot rebound off the post and roll across the goal just past the quarter hour. Brian Maher suffered an injury in failing on the loose ball but recovered to play on after some treatment. Maher then saved from Doherty moments later. Moments later Wexford were level when Daniel Dobbin drove home following a corner.

Bray restored their lead within a minute when Brandon Kavanagh took advantage of the defensive mix up to roll the ball to the net. A good move by Bray on the stroke of half time saw Thompson’s cross from the left met by Gary Shaw and his hearer was brilliantly saved by Corcoran.

Brian Maher and Gary Shaw didn’t return for the second half and were replaced by Kian Clarke and Joe Doyle. Wexford drew level on 53 minutes when Considine’s cross from the left was dropped by Clarke and adjudged to have gone over the line. The home side took the lead on 67 minutes when Evan Farrell headed past Clarke.

Callum Thomson was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Moylan on 79 minutes. Jack Doherty then fired into the side netting from a tight angle for Wexford. Jack Moylan then beat two bray defenders in the box before slotting under Clark to score Wexford’s fourth goal of the evening.

Bray now face Galway United in the promotion play off’s. The first leg will take place at the Carlisle Grounds on Wednesday, 3rd October with the second leg in Eamonn Deacy Park on Sunday, 7th November.

Wexford FC: 1 Jimmy Corcoran; 4 Paul Cleary, 29 Lorcan Fitzgerald, 3 Cian Kelly; 20 Daniel Dobbin; 9 Karl Fitzsimons, 7 Conor Crowley, 21 Harry Groome, 16 Jack Moylan; 10 Jack Doherty, 17 Kyle Robinson
Subs: 2 Thomas Considine (for Fitzsimons for H/T), 12 Nicky Leonard, 13 Andrew Farrell, 19 Evan Farrell (for Robinson H/T), 23 Luke Scanlon (for Moylan 83), 25 Sean Martin (gk), 26 Ayman Yousif (for Doherty 87), 28 Donal Porter

Bray Wanderers: 1 Brian Maher; 17 Luka Lovic, 15 Daniel Jones, 5 Aaron Barry, 3 Dylan Barnett; 14 Richie O’Farrell, 6 Conor Clifford; 11 Brandon Kavanagh, 27 Callum Thompson, 16 Darren Craven; 10 Gary Shaw
Subs: 4 Andrew Quinn, 7 Ryan Graydon (for Clifford 69), 9 Joe Doyle (for Shaw H/T), 19 Darragh Lynch, 20 Ryan Bowden (for Barry 55), 22 Steven Kinsella, 25 Kian Clarke (for Maher H/T)

Referee: Alan Patchell

Match report: Michael Duffy

Pictures: Peter Minogue