Bray Wanderers 1 Bohemians 0
A dogged display by Bray saw them earn a first set of three points in Tier 2 North of the LOI Academy MU17 League
Up against a young but very good Bohemians side at Ballycorus on Saturday morning, the Green and White’s withstood a series of opportunities by the Dubliners to come out on top 1-0.
Wanderers’ goalkeeper Alexander Kearney shone between the sticks with a number of top-notch saves while his team-mates all dug-in to claim victory having started the campaign with a narrow 1-0 away loss to Sligo Rovers last week.
Having been pinned back early on, the Seagulls took a ninth minute lead through a slick passing move.
With skipper Paddy Kildee-Doolan involved, Eric Schütte linked with Rhys Knight in the ‘D to slip in Adam Reid.
With no flag despite cries for offside by the away side, the striker rolled in his low effort from 12-yards.
The Gypsies responded. Kearney thwarted Seam McCarthy in the tenth minute with a down low save.
Then seconds later, the keeper denied Joey Chad before recovering and blocking Muhammad Haris’ follow-up.
Kearney was called upon to produce a cracking tip-over stop to prevent Haris equalising in the 22nd minute.
But Wanderers hit back in the 24th minute. Philip Cooney was played clear off the left flank only to see his driven attempt pushed out superbly by Ryan Maher.
A well-timed Knight tackle in the 35th minute allowed Cooney to slip in Dylan Ryan. But he was unable to get his shot away close in with Maher smothering the loose ball.
The second half was a much more dogged affair. It wasn’t until the closing stages that the chances came.
Conor Errity’s long range free for Bohs crashed off the bar on 81. Then in the 89th minute, good foot work by Andrew Paraschiv saw space open up for him 22-yards out. But Kearney pulled off a fantastic save for a corner.
With just under seven minutes of stoppage time played, the hosts almost scored again in the 96th minute.
Cooney exchanged pass with sub Kian Dowling before smashing a 15-yard half volley narrowly wide.
Bray Wanderers: Alexander Kearney; Ronan Langan, Alex Baines, Ronan Dawson, Luke Smith; Paddy Kildee-Doolan, Eric Schütte; Dylan Ryan, Rhys Knight, Phillip Cooney; Adam Reid.
Subs: Jack Nolan, Max Colbert, Ethan Cheese, Kian Dowling, Alain Kizenga, Aidan Kane, Alex Forde.
Bohemians: Ryan Maher; Fionn Morris Daly, Samuel Collins, Conor Errity, Sean McCarthy; Aaron Culleton, Oskar Skoubo Keely; Bezalel Agbontaen, Andrew Paraschiv, Joey Chad; Muhammad Haris.
Subs: Christopher Conlan, Marcel Schabowski, Logan Dunne, Sam Baker.
Referee: Jos Byrne. Assistants: Keith Neville, Mark Wynne (all Wicklow ISRS).
* Bray are due to be away to Athlone Town on Saturday July 8 next.