Bray maintained their unbeaten away record in the U17 LOI Academy this season with a fantastic 2-0 win over Waterford.
After two home defeats to Klub Kildare and Shelbourne, the Seasiders left the SETU Arena on Saturday with all three Group B points with second half goals by Kian Dowling and substitute Philip Cooney.
Wanderers – who’d lost 5-0 in the reverse fixture back in March at Ballycorus against the Blue’s – made a number of changes to their starting team, beginning the game with seven U16 players on the pitch.
The first half was a relatively even affair with both sides sharing periods of possession, but defenders remained largely on top. Seasiders’ Alain Kizenga was impressive as he martialled his backline, while Harry Sherlock and Eric Schütte were composed in the midfield.
The second half started in similar fashion, but the deadlock was broken on 55 minutes by the visitors.
Alex Baines played the ball into Rhys Knight who slipped a slide rule pass for Dowling to slot cooly past the goalkeeper Jason Healy.
This caused the contest to open up. Both teams had a few chances with Knight starting to dictate the tempo for Bray.
In the final ten minutes, Waterford upped the pressure, but the away defence held firm.
Three minutes into stoppage time, the hosts won a corner with Healy coming up for it.
After a scramble in the box, the ball broke to sub Dylan Ryan who drove out of the box with the ball.
He played the ball into the home half for Cooney to race onto and roll into the empty goal to wrap up an impressive win.
Elsewhere in the section, leaders Shelbourne overcame Klub Kildare 4-2 at the AUL Complex in Dublin while CK United drew 1-1 with Wexford FC in Carlow.
With three games remaining in the section, Shels lead the way on 15 points. Waterford are second on 13 with Bray and Klub Kildare third on ten points.
Bray Wanderers: Alexander Kearney; Jack Nolan, Alain Kizenga, Alex Baines, Roddy Cotter; Ronan Dawson, Eric Schütte; Kian Dowling, Adam Reid, Rhys Knight.
Subs: Ronan Langan, Luke Smith, Dylan Ryan, Paddy Kildee-Doolan, Ethan Cheese, Max Colbert, Phillip Cooney, Aidan Kane, David Winkler.
* Bray return to Ballycorus on Saturday April 29 next to host CK United at 2,00pm.
