Bray Wanderers 5 CK United 0
Bray registered their first EA SPORTS MU19 LOI Academy Group A home win of the season as they overpowered CK United.
Two early goals set the tone at Ballycorus on Sunday afternoon as Wanderers led 3-0 at the interval.
The visitors – who had a number of players from Wicklow in their panel – arrived bottom of the table after eight straight losses.
They were on their way to a ninth defeat when the Seagulls hit the front after just seven minutes.
Don O’Toole’s cross-field pass wide left found Zach Nolan whose cross was headed clear by the away defence. The ball dropped to Ben Clarke in the ‘D to tee up Roland Olakanye who placed a low first time finish from 15-yards to the far right corner of the net.
It got better for the Green and White’s just three minutes later.
Lewis Jacobs’ shot in the box was blocked. The ball rebounded to Thomas Morgan. Last weeks hat-trick hero against Cobh side-stepped a tackle before angling in a low drive from 12-yards.
It took a fine save by Bray native Ben Currums to thwart Olakanye on 24.
But the home team notched a third score in first half stoppage time.
Clarke’s precise pass slipped in Morgan. He then created space to find the unmarked Olakanye who had time to pick his spot with low placed effort from 14-yards.
The second period was just seven minutes old when Olakanye was fouled in the box. Morgan made it five goals in two goals when converting the spot-kick.
The crossbar denied Jacobs just moments later off a thunderous 20-yard shot.
But the Wicklow side registered a fifth goal in the 56th minute.
Clarke curled in a corner form the left-wing right footed. And the ball dropped over the lien for an own goal in a crowded goalmouth.
Morgan was prevented from claiming a second consecutive treble on 62 by Currums’ fine body block while the custodian brought off a super save to deny Daniel Chukwu on 79.
The result consolidates Wanderers seventh position in the section.
They can overall Waterford FC who are a point above them with one game remaining.
Bray will entertain Treaty United next Sunday May 21 at Ballycorus with a 2.30pm kick-off while Waterford travel to play Wexford FC the same day at Ferrycarrig Park.
Bray Wanderers: Jamie Molloy; Joshua Kerr, Don O Toole, Leon Ajala, Zach Nolan; Jack Kehoe, Ben Clarke, Daniel Chukwu, Thomas Morgan, Roland Olakanye; Lewis Jacobs.
Subs: Jack Murray, Caleb O’Neill, Harry Sherlock, Alex Baines, Max Hennessy, Brent Culbert, Jack Ross.
CK United: Ben Currums; Dylan Murphy, Jude Bates, Aaron Hughes, Deon Fielding, Andrew Synoradzki; Aaron Murray, Jerry Collins, Sean Keane, Tyler Dunphy, Padraig Wafer.
Subs: Kian Murphy, Isaac Emmanuel, Charles Tarter, Liam Burke, Deividas Tamasauskas, Callum Behan, Evan O’Neill.
Referee: Phillip Harrison. Assistants: Glen Geraghty, John Hanney.
Goalscorers Thomas Morgan and Roland Olakanye.
