Bray Wanderers 1 Dundee FC 5
An experimental Bray line-up went down to new Scottish Premier League side Dundee in a mid-season friendly on Wednesday evening.
In front a healthy crowd at the Carlisle Grounds which included a large number who’d made the trip over from Scotland, the visitors led 3-1 at the interval.
Under stand-in captain Jack Hudson, and with a eye on Friday’s league clash away in Donegal against Finn Harps, the make-shift Seagulls squad ended with several underage players on the pitch at the final whistle.
Caleb O’Neill from the U17/19 panel started in central defence, and played the whole match.
U17 players Alain Kizenga and Paddy Kildee-Doolan saw action in the second period while U15 Republic of Ireland international Billy O’Neill came on a late second half sub.
It meant Wanderers finished with a 17-year-old; two 16 year-old’s and a 15-year-old on the field of play at the final whistle – with 19 players used in total.
The quartet have come through the clubs Academy. But taking into considering Hudson, Conor Knight, Ben Feeney, and sub Zach Donohue, no less than eight players who have come through the underage set-up featured.
The run was vital as the likes of Alex Moody, Knight, Joe Power, Guillermo Almirall, and Ger Shortt who all got minutes in their legs.
The bright spot for the Seagulls was the superb individual goal by trialist Nadre Butcher.
The 19-year-old Barbados international picked up a loose ball in the Bray half in the 40th minute. He broke, chased half the length of the pitch by Shaun Byrne.
The attacker then cut back from the left of the box to the ‘D before firing in low with a fierce drive past Adam Legzdins.
Dundee had broken the dead-lock in the 11th minute through Zach Robinson. Owen Beck made it 2-0 in the 19th minute while Robinson netted again on 44 to make it 3-1.
The Dark Blue’s emptied their bench at the interval and made seven changes.
One of them – Zak Rudden – notched their fourth and fifth goals in the 57th and 75th minutes.
Bray Wanderers: Alex Moody; Conor Knight, Jack Hudson (Lorcan Fitzgerald 69), Caleb O’Neill, Len O’Sullivan (Zach Donohue half time); Conor Crowley (Callum Thompson half time), Guillermo Almirall (Paddy Kildee Doolan 65), Joe Power (Luca Lovic half time); Nadre Butcher (Alain Kizenga 65); Ger Shortt (Billy O’Neill 83), Ben Feeney (Conor Davis half time).
Sub not used: Stephen McGuinness.
Dundee FC: Adam Legzdins (Jon McCracken half time); Cammy Kerr (Callum Lamb half time), Joe Shaughnessy (Luke Graham half time), Lee Ashcroft, Owen Beck (Jack Wilkie half time); Shaun Byrne; Luke McCowan (Josh Mulligan half time), Max Anderson (Euan Mutale half time), Finlay Robertson; Lyall Cameron (Luke McCowan 81); Zach Robinson (Zak Rudden half time).
Sub not used: Harry Sharp.
Referee: Oliver Moran.
Pictures: Graeme Fryer.
