Bray Wanderers 3 Longford Town 1
Bray ended a three-game losing streak in the U15 EA SPORTS LOI Academy – Tier Two (North) by doing a League double over Longford
Wanderers had won the reverse fixture 3-2 back in July at Bishopsgate.
And got back to winning ways under beautiful sunshine on Sunday afternoon at Ballycorus.
At the same venue back in June, the Green and White’s won 9-3 in the Michael Hayes Cup.
In truth, had the host taken their chances, it would have been a repeat score-line.
The home team had the better of the first period exchanges with Adam Keene and Sean Hennelly prominent on either flank. But the tie remained score-less after the first half hour.
Hennelly struck the post in the 32nd minute. But proved the catalyst as the dead-lock was broken in the 37th minute.
Hennelly won a throw-in near the left corner flag. He took it quickly to full-back Tadhg Worthington to return the ball to the winger. Hennelly skipped past a defender and picked out Cristiano Bramley’s whose deflected shot dropped to the net.
A series of chances to add to that tally were spurned before the ‘Town levelled matters in the 55th minute through Arseniy Sakala.
However, Bray went back in front in the 57th minute.
Goalkeeper Liam Billings gathered a cross. His quick release set Bramley clear down the right. Getting ahead of two opponents, he burst into the box to slot past the impressive Max Waters.
It got even better in the first minute of second period stoppage time.
Another quick ball by Billings launched a counter-attack. Bramley again off the right wing got the better of two players and cut the ball back for the inrushing Darragh Sherlock to fire to the net.
Elsewhere in the section, Drogheda United beat leaders UCD 3-2 at Weavers Park while Sligo Rovers defeated Dundalk 2-0 at Oriel Park.
The results leaves Bray in sixth in the section, ten points off leaders UCD but with a game in hand.
Bray Wanderers: Liam Billings; Ryan Bell Mihaila, Callum Kenna, Max Free, Tadhg Worthington; Jake Fulton, Darragh Sherlock; Adam Keene, Sean Howard, Sean Hennelly, Cristiano Bramley.
Subs: Joshua O’Leary, Jack Lawless, Noah Byrne, Barra Lynch. Alex Forde.
Longford Town: Max Waters; Isaiah Mensah, Raymond McNally, Ryan O’Donoghue, Matthew Loftus; Lukas Hanly; Alex Smith, Cormac Mulligan, Tadgh Crowe, Arseniy Sakala; Lucas Madu.
Subs: Domas Miliauskas, Conor Shannon, Dylan Gallagher, Dominik Grzegorski, Daire Toher, Cody Kelly, Ethan Meisonnave, Szymon Szatanik, Kyle Kane GK
Referee: Mark Wynne (Wicklow).
* Bray return to Ballycorus next Sunday (September 10) to entertain Athlone Town.
Bray goal scorers Cristiano Bramley and Darragh Sherlock.
