Under 17s defeat Shelbourne

Bray Wanderers (u17) 2 Shelbourne (u17) 1

Bray avenged their opening day loss away to Shels to record their third U17 EA Sports National Underage League win in a row.

Having gone down 3-1 away to the Reds last month at the AUL Complex, the Seagulls responded by inflicting a first Group C defeat of the campaign upon the Dubliners on Saturday afternoon at Ballycorus.

Having beaten Drogheda United (3-1) and Wexford FC (7-0), the Green and Whites had an early scare as goalkeeper Samuel Safaei had react to deny Gavin Hodgins inside the opening 30 seconds.

The hosts responded in the second minute when Eoghan O’Hanlon’s volley was blocked at point blank range by away custodian Graham Dooner from Max Mason’s cross.

A set-piece saw Bray take a 13th minute delivery. Lewis Jacobs’ corner was headed in the box by a Shels player. The rebound fell to David Monaghan who blasted to the roof of the net close in.

The Dubliner’s drew level just after the half hour. Former Bray player Lewis Temple’s ball forward saw Hodgins get clear to flick past Safaei.

That joy was short-lived as Wanderers went back in front less than a minute later.

Daniel Chukwu latched onto an angled pass wide right. He then sidestepped two defenders before firing in left footed at the near post past Dooner’s palms.

In the 42nd minute, Temple’s 25-yard free was superbly tipped onto the crossbar by Dooner with the ball coming down before the line. Zach Nolan followed up but directed his header over the bar.

Right on half time, Chukwu again cut in from the left wing but curled his 20-yard right footed effort just wide of the target.

After the hectic opening period, the second half became a more tactical affair.

Wanderers did have the two best chances at either stage of the period. Inside the first minute, Dooner had to be alert to thwart Mason.

Then deep into stoppage time, the keeper clawed out substitute Dylan Ryan’s free for a corner.

Bray remain at home at Ballycorus on Saturday April 16 when they host Shamrock Rovers at 2.00pm.

 

Bray Wanderers: Samuel Safaei; Matthew Anderson, David Monaghan, Callum Goud, Zach Nolan; Max Hennessy, Joshua Kerr; Daniel Chukwu, Lewis Jacobs, Eoghan O’Hanlon; Max Mason.

Subs: Jake Murray, Harry Sherlock, Dylan Ryan, Conor O’Gorman, Caleb O’Neill, Jamie Molloy.