Drogheda United 0 Bray Wanderers 1 (Brennan 11p)
EA Sports League cup, United Park, 4 April 2017
Ryan Brennan scored and missed penalties against his home town club as Wanderers held on to advance to the second round of the EA Sports cup.
Following a Bray corner on six minutes, a scramble took place in the Drogheda box which the home side eventually cleared after a few attempts. Wanderers took the lead on 11 minutes. Dylan Connolly’s run down the left took him into the area where he was brought down by Buckley. Ryan Brennan fired the resultant penalty past Coulter.
Bray has a let off on 25 minutes. Conor Kenna lost possession in the left back position to Wixted. The former Wanderers player set up Byrne who forced Cherrie into a great save.
Coulter had to be at his best on 29 minutes when he tipped over a shot from Darragh Noone. Wanderers were awarded a second penalty on the half hour when Hollywood was adjudged to have handled in the area. This time, Brennan drove the penalty high over the bar.
Coulter was forced to save a Brennan shot on 67 minutes. Dylan Connolly broke free on the right on 72 minutes but shot wide as Coulter advanced to narrow the angles.
Cherrie was equal to anything that Drogheda could throw at him in the closing stages as Wanderers held on for victory without too much difficulty.
Drogheda United: Ryan Coulter; Conor Kane, Kevin Farragher, Shane Elworthy, Eoghan Dempsey, Llyod Dempsey, Adam Wixted, Ryan McEvoy, Jamie Hollywood, Stephen Elliot, Thomas Byrne. Subs: Dylan Sweeney (gk), Richie Purdy, Gareth McCaffrey (for Dempsey 82), Jake Hyland (for Hollywood 82) , Luke Gallagher (for Buckley 54).
Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Keith Buckley, Conor Kenna, Derek Foran, Alan Kehoe; Dylan Connolly, Darragh Noone, Ryan Brennan, Jason Marks, Ger Pender; Jamie Aherne,
Subs: Mark Salmon (for Ahern 74), John Sullivan (for Connolly 82), Gary McCabe (for Pender 88), Hugh Douglas, Tim Clancy, Ryan Robinson, Lee Steacy (gk)
Match Report: Michael Duffy