Bray Wanderers 0 Drogheda United 1
Carlisle Grounds, First Division, 25 September 2020
Bray Wanderers unbeaten league run of eight games and five consecutive league victories came to an end with this narrow defeat to Drogheda United. The first divisions top scorer Mark Doyle headed home the only goal of the tight game on 29 minutes.
Wanderers made one change to the starting team from last Monday’s win over Cobh Ramblers. Sean McEvoy returned after suspension to replace Joe Doyle.
In a lively game, Wanderers had the first chance when Ryan Graydon’s shot was blocked by James Brown after he went round Odumosu. Two minutes later, Mark Doyle shot just wide at the other end after been played in by Jake Hyland.
Wanderers lost top scorer Gary Shaw just before the half hour as he went off injured. From a corner on the right Doyle headed home to give the visitors the lead. Wanderers almost responded instantly. Callum Thompsons shot beat Odumosu but went inches past the post. Odumosu pulled off a great save four minutes before the break when he got down low to deny Ryan Graydon.
In the second half Drogheda’s defence with ex-Wanderers Derek Prendergast and Hughie Douglas as centre half’s limited Wanderers chances. A late flurry from Wanderers saw Dylan Barnett’s corner cleared to the edge of the area where Wanderers won a free kick. Barnett’s resulting free kick was blocked by the ball as Drogheda held out for victory that see’s them leapfrog Wanderers at the top of the table. Drogheda go one point clear of Wanderers with four games remaining.
Bray Wanderers: 25 Brian Maher, 2 John Ross Wilson, 3 Dylan Barnett, 4 Killian Cantwell, 5 Aaron Barry, 7 Ryan Graydon, 8 Callum Thompson, 12 Jack Watson, 17 Luka Lovic, 18 Sean McEvoy, 10 Gary Shaw.
Substitutes; 1 Adam Hayden (Gk), 6 Paul Keegan, 10 Joe Doyle (for Watson, 69), 11 Derek Daly (for Graydon, 86), 14 Noack-Hofmann, 17 Darragh Lynch (for Shaw, 28), 27 Marlon Marishta
Booked: Barry (54), Graydon (64)
Drogheda United: 23 David Odumosu, 2 James Brown, 3 Conor Kane, 5 Derek Prendergast, 6 Hugh Douglas, 11 Jake Hyland, 14 Mark Doyle, 15 Stephen Meaney, 16 Brandon Bermingham, 22 James Clarke, 45 Mark Hughes.
Substitutes: 1 Ross Tracy (Gk), 4 Jack Tuite (for Meaney, 61), 7 Adam Wixted, 9 Chris Lyons (for Bermingham, h/t), 10 Richie O’Farrell (for Doyle, 80), 21 Luke Heeney (for Clarke, 61), 25 Ryan O’Shea.
Booked: Doyle (35), Meaney (57), Kane (76)
Referee: Damien McGrath
Match Report: Michael Duffy
Pictures: Peter Minogue