Bray Wanderers 0 Sligo Rovers 1
Bray started their LOI Academy MU19 League 2023 Tier 2 (North) campaign with a narrow defeat.
Rovers claimed the only goal late in the first half on Sunday afternoon at Ballycorus.
It was the Seagulls first defeat in six games in all competitions since last April.
The vital score came in the 34th minute.
After netminder Matthew Fox’s clearance, Owen Elding slipped Conor Campbell in off the left of the box to find the net close in with a low finish.
The Bit O’Red almost added to that score right on half time. But Gareth McElroy headed Elding’s corner just over the crossbar.
Within a minute of the turnaround, Elding blasted over when baring down on goal off the right flank.
Wanderers came to life in the 51st minute as Thomas Morgan’s shot from inside the penalty area was deflected off target.
Moments later at the other end, Elding disposed Jack Ross. But the goalkeeper recovered to parry for a corner.
Then in the 54th minute, Ben Clarke’s long range attempt was superbly tipped over by Fox.
The hosts rallied in search of that elusive equaliser. Morgan had another attempt charged down for a corner on 61 for a corner.
In the 89th minute, Gareth McElroy cleared Clarke’s goal bound corner off the line.
And two minutes in stoppage time, substitute Harry Sherlock fired just wide low from 20-yards.
Bray Wanderers: Jack Ross; Joshua Kerr, Caleb O’Neill, Leon Ajala, Zach Nolan; Jack Kehoe, Ben Clarke; Roland Olakanye, Thomas Morgan, Zach Donohue; Scott Browne.
Subs: Lewis Jacobs, Don O Toole, Brent Culbert, Hayden Roche, Phillip Cooney, Alex Baines, Harry Sherlock, Jamie Molloy.
Sligo Rovers: Matthew Fox; Solomon Eduard, Gareth McElroy, Niall Holohan, Daniel Kelly; Daire McCarthy, Shea Malone; Conor Campbell, Bridel Bosakani, Owen Elding; Rashid Yeboah.
Subs: Sam Tuohy, Liam Lee, Shane Rooney, Ultan O’Grady, Nikita Hutsul, David Jonathan, Kyle Gabbidon.
Referee: Oliver Moran. Assistants: Phillip Harrison, Eduardo Salcido Tapia.
* Bray are on their travels on Sunday July 2 when they face Longford Town at Bishopsgate.
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