Wexford FC 2 Bray Wanderers 1
Bray’s SSE Airtricity First Division play-off hopes were dealt a near fatal blow following defeat at Ferrycarrig Park on Friday.
Just like the fixture at the same venue last May, it was a failure to take their chances; and some poor defending, that cost Wanderers in game that perhaps they deserved much more from.
Cole Omorehiomwan’s sixth goal of the season drew the Seagulls level at 1-1 in the 68th minute.
They looked the better side and seemed to have the momentum. But Wexford secured the points ten minutes later off a corner.
From the team who drawn last week with Treaty United, there was one change to the line-up as two-goal hero Jake Walker was restored to the first XI.
Walker skied over after 15 minutes when well placed in the box off Yoyo Mahdy’s cutback as the visitors started well.
Two minutes later, Mahdy set Callum Thompson free down the flank. But the winger’s cross-shot flew across the six-yard area.
The Seasiders lost centre half Seán Quinn to injury just after the half hour through injury.
His replacement Jack Hudson was still settling in when the hosts hit the front in the 38th minute with their first real chance of note.
Matt Connor’s goal kick was headed back from the Wexford half by Ethan Boyle. Mark Hanratty’s headed on from the centre circle.
Thomas Oluwa out-paced both Hudson and Omorehiomwan to hit a 16-yard half volley past Connor.
Bray’s response was almost instant in the 40th minute.
Thompson nipped in just outside the penalty area to dispossess Cian O’Malley. But Owen Mason make a vital sliding tackle as the attacker tried to round the keeper.
In a tight second period, Hanratty blasted over from 15-yards in the 50th minute after a blocked clearance dropped to him in the area
After Seasiders skipper Darren Craven was off target on 61, Hanratty’s run across the box wide left a minute later saw his angled attempt just miss the far top corner.
Wanderers were rewarded for their efforts in the 68th minute. Craven delivered right footed from a left-wing corner
Omorehiomwan watched the flight of the ball to power in a close range effort through a crowded goalmouth,
Again, somewhat against the run of play, the Slaneysiders went 2-1 up in the 78th minute.
From James Crawford’s inswing corner from the right left footed, defender O’Malley got the run on the away defence to glance in a front post header to the far net.
Wanderers almost hit back 90 seconds later.
From Hudson’s long throw from the near the right corner flag. It was flicked on by Craven. Omorehiomwan dug a low shot out from under his feet from ten yards. But Mason got down low to his left upright to touch the ball around the post.
Just a minute later, Hudson launched another long throw from the right. It bounced in the six-yard area were sub Chris Lyons swivelled. His low effort was stopped on the line by Mason’s legs and scrambled out for a corner.
Three minutes deep into stoppage time, Dane Massey’s quick throw down the left wing found Thompson. He crossed with Walker steering a header that dropped just wide.
Wexford FC: Owen Mason; Reece Webb, Cian O’Malley, Luke Browne, James Crawford; Ethan Boyle, Luka Lovic (Danny Furlong 80); Kian Corbally, Darragh Levingston (Corban Piper 84), Mark Hanratty (Aaron Dobbs 68); Thomas Oluwa.
Subs not used: Benjamin Lynch, Aaron Robinson, Karl Chambers, Eoin Kenny, Conor Levingston, Noel Heffernan.
Booked: Lovic 74.
Bray Wanderers: Matthew Connor; Max Murphy (Thomas Morgan 68), Cole Omorehiomwan, Seán Quinn (Jack Hudson 32), Len O’Sullivan (Dane Massey 68); Darren Craven, Harry Groome, Guillermo Almirall (Conor Crowley 59); Callum Thompson, Jake Walker, Yousef Mahdy (Chris Lyons 59).
Subs not used: Conor Davis, Conor Knight, Daniel Chukwu, Alex Moody.
Booked: Groome 36, Walker 74.
Referee: Marc Lynch (Galway).
Pictures: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile.
