Sligo Rovers 6 Bray Wanderers 2
A four salvo by Owen Elding saw Bray fall to a U19 LOI Academy League Tier 2 (North) defeat.
Against section leaders Sligo at the Astro at the Showgrounds on Sunday afternoon, Bray came from 1-0 down to tie the contest at 1-1 midway through the first half.
But Rovers went on to lead 2-1 at the interval. Two quick-fire goals just after the turnaround saw the hosts maintain their position at the top of the table.
When the teams met last June at Ballycorus, the Bit O’Red won 1-0.
That score-line was matched when Elding netted after only 90 seconds.
However, Thomas Morgan equalised for the visitors with an outlandish lob from all of 30 yards.
But Rovers regained the lead in the 33rd minute through Rashid Yeboah.
Elding completed his treble with two goals in the 51st and 54th minutes.
Sligo then had Ultan O’Grady dismissed for two booking on 58. Yet, Elding was again on the score-sheet in the 65th minute.
Sub Patrick Mongomery added a sixth in the 76th minute. The Green and White’s had the final say in the 90th minute as Leon Ajala scored with a powerful drive.
The result leaves Bray in fourth place in the section with 16 points from their ten games to date. They still have to play Longford Town and Athlone Town at home.
Wanderers need three points from those two games to secure a top-four placing.
Bray Wanderers: Alexander Kearney; Joshua Kerr, Callum Goad, Caleb O’Neill, Leon Ajala; Jack Kehoe, Luca Mulhare; Daniel Chukwu, Thomas Morgan, Alex Nolan; Roland Olakanye.
Subs: Lewis Jacobs, Max Hennessy, Harry Sherlock, Brent Culbert, Jamie Molloy.
* Bray return to Ballycorus next Sunday (October 15) to host Longford Town.