Bray Wanderers 1 Drogheda United 0
Bray booked their place in the Quarter Finals of the EA Sports U14 Eddie Wallace Cup with a hard fought win over Drogheda.
One goal in the middle period was enough for the Seagulls to claim a narrow 1-0 victory over a dogged Drogheda side in a physical (but fair) last 16 encounter on Saturday morning at Ballycorus.
The vital score arrived in the 42nd minute.
A through ball released Harry Grainger along the right wing. Bursting towards the box, he squared low were the inrushing Daniel Oluwadara Olusola slotted in low from close range.
The first period of 25 minutes was a tight affair with the home team unable to make the most of a series of set-pieces from corners and free-kicks.
Six minutes into the second period, home midfielder Louis Rothwell rifled a 25-yard shot on the run just off target.
But the Wicklow outfit had a major let-off 60 seconds later.
Calvin Winters’ free was allowed drop into the 18-yard area. Ethan Deegan reacted to loop a header over custodian Kai McSwiggan. But the covering Charlie Byrne made a sensational last-gasp flying clearance off the goal-line.
Having taken the lead, Bray were also guilty for not playing to the whistle in the 45th minute.
Expecting one for offside that didn’t come, United front man Declan Ehigie rolled the ball past McSwiggan. But wide of the open goal.
In stoppage time of the period, Rothwell delivered from the right low to pick out Joshua Henderson Finn. But reserve Drogheda keeper Dylan Sheridan made a point blank save off the low drive.
Wanderers went close to adding a second late on.
But Grainger’s 20-yard free from the edge of the box went over the bar in the 68th minute.
Then deep into stoppage time, Joshua O’Leary’s snapped shot from just outside the penalty area flew just over.
Elsewhere in the competition on Saturday, Treaty United, Waterford FC, Bohemians, and Shamrock Rovers all advanced to the last eight.
The other three ties are due to be played next week.
Bray Wanderers: Kai McSwiggan; Ryan Butler, Albie Tormey, Charlie Byrne, Aaron Kelly-Mladin; Joshua O’Leary, Louis Rothwell; Harry Grainger, Joshua Henderson Finn, Matt Dennehy; Daniel Oluwadara Olusola.
Subs: Jamie Lynch, Evan Lynch, Alexander Emakhu, Emanuele Vaticone, Nate Long.
Drogheda United: Jamie Dalton; Cormac Doran, Rhys Kearney, Calvin Winters, Sean Sullivan; Ewan Fox, Erik Tobli; Callum Fulham, Cillian Downey, Ethan Deegan; Declan Ehigie.
Subs: Kai Gray McCluskey, Alex Fullam Rafferty, Cillian Duff, Sebastian Hudziak, Dylan Sheridan.
Referee: Darren O’Brien (Wicklow).
Bray goal scorer Daniel Oluwadara Olusola
