Bray Wanderers 3 Bohemians 2
Bray kept their outside chances of a top-two placing in the EA SPORTS MU15 LOI Academy Group B alive with a first home victory since March.
That’s after the Wicklow side defeated Bohemians 3-2 on Sunday at Ballycorus.
The game was very good advertisement for the LOI competitive underage sections, full of energy and enthusiasm with both teams try to play good quality football.
When the two teams met at the Oscar Traynor Complex back at the start of April, the Dubliner’s won 2-1.
But the Wicklow side started on the front foot.
In the tenth minute, U15 Irish international Billy O’Neill helped a ball onto his striking partner Cristiano Bramley only for him to be fouled inside the box by away goalkeeper Finn McDonnell.
Sean Hennelly coolly slotted the penalty to the net.
A near carbon copy made it 2-0 on 54 minutes.
Bramley was again taken down in the box after some good play from Josh O’Leary by winning the ball back. Hennelly again made no mistake with the 12-yard dead-ball.
But the Gypsies pulled one back just before the end of the period through Gary Gallagher Comiskey from a set piece corner.
The final period was a tight affair. But the vital fourth score went in Wanderers’ favour as Bramley capped a man of a match performance with a brilliant finish.
In the eight minutes of stoppage time that followed, Marcel Schabowski grabbed what proved to be a consolation for the visitors.
Bray Wanderers: Kai McSwiggan; Ryan Bell Mihaila, Callum Kenna, Noah Byrne, Evan Lynch; Joshua O’Leary, Sean Howard; Adam Keene, Cristiano Bramley, Sean Hennelly; Billy O’Neill.
Subs: Darragh Sherlock, Jake Fulton, Tadhg Worthington, Max Free.
Bohemians: Finn McDonnell; Josh Phoenix, Noa Mulvey, Rhys Cullen, Josh Delves; Adam Colgan, Christian Coyle, Marcel Schabowski, Oskar Skoubo Keely, Luke Chukwu; Gary Gallagher Comiskey.
Subs: Zac Kielty, Fionn Morris Daly, Bobbie Malone, Chris Idah, Logan Dunne, Luke Moran.
Referee: Daniel Grehan (Wicklow).
* Bray entertain Shamrock Rovers on Sunday May 28 next in their final Group match at Ballycorus. The Seagulls are three points behind Bohs who have a better goal difference of +6. The Gypsies are at home to Dundalk at the Oscar Traynor Complex the same day.
U14 Goalkeeper Kai McSwiggan stepped up to help the U15 team with a confident and polished performance.
