Bray slump to third loss on the trot
ST PATRICK’S ATH 3 BRAY WANDERERS 1
IN a match that unfortunately mirrors their season, Bray Wanderers got the start they wanted before it all fell apart by the end.
A moment of inspiration from Gary McCabe gave the Seagulls the lead but it could not inspire them to victory. Their third defeat on the trot saw the Co. Wicklow club drop to fourth.
With former club chairman Denis O’Connor observing from the stands, Harry Kenny fielded the same starting XI that had probed and pushed Cork City. Unfortunately they did not produce the same performance and the Saints eventually went marching into three thoroughly deserved points.
So little is his confidence in his side’s defence – the second worst in the league – that Kenny again opted to deploy Keith Buckey at right-back and shift Hugh Douglas inside whilst leaving Tim Clancy and Derek Foran on the bench. He would rather play two men out of their natural position (Buckley and Douglas) to avoid playing two men (Foran and Clancy) in theirs.
Friday’s clash at Richmond Park was the sides’ fifth meeting of 2017. And speaking of familiarity, it also pitted brothers Killian (Pat’s) and Ryan Brennan (Bray) against one another.
Some characteristically confused defending from the visitors almost paved the way for Billy Dennehy to open the scoring after eight minutes. He spotted Peter Cherrie off his line but his shot drifted over.
Christy Fagan was strongly linked with a move to the seaside in the off-season before recommitting to the Saints. His 17th minute strike whistled narrowly over the crossbar.
Fagan was sniffing around again three minutes later. Dennehy found the striker from the left and Fagan’s header landed on the roof of the net.
Despite being under heavy pressure, Bray got their nose in front eight minutes shy of the interval. McCabe provided the goal – his 14th of the campaign – and it could well be the pick of the bunch as his 25-yard free arced ferociously into O’Malley’s top corner. The goalkeeper had no chance.
People have questioned whether the Bray players still have the same desire as they did before this sorry mess but McCabe’s celebration suggested that he does and he also squared up to Kurtis Byrne minutes later following a foul on the Pat’s attacker by Mark Salmon.
A change was made at the break as Kevin Lynch was withdrawn and replaced by Ger Pender. This mean a conversion to left wing for Aaron Greene and forced Jason Marks into left-back.
Too often this season, a lack of leadership has cost Bray dearly. Early in the second half, they concede four corners in a row and were duly punished at the fourth time of asking. Peter Cherrie will watch this incident through fingered gloves as he came to claim the flag kick and missed it, leaving a simple finish for Conan Byrne at the back post.
Pat’s turned the tie on its head in the 59th minute. Conan Byrne had the right flank all to himself and he didn’t waste it – his cross found Fagan who swept home his fifth of the season.
He should have had a sixth soon after. He was clean through on goal but was foiled by Cherrie.
Fagan was withdrawn four minutes from time but his replacement, Josh O’Hanlon, still had time to shovel more shit on the steaming pile currently smothering Bray Wanderers. The visiting defence waited for an offside flag that never arrived and O’Hanlon steered his finish past Cherrie.
It was a disjointed, lifeless, limp and forlorn 90 minutes from Bray Wanderers. McCabe’s strike slightly masked matters but Friday’s evidence suggests that the offfield problems have now polluted the on-field antics. Three defeats on the spin – albeit with two of those coming against Cork and Dundalk – have derailed the club’s season and their rosy garden is now littered with weeds.
The chance to halt their downwards plummet comes on Friday as Ollie Horgan’s resurgent Finn Harps visit the Carlisle Grounds. A victory is badly needed.
Scorers - St. Patrick’s Athletic 3 (C. Byrne 52, Fagan 57, J. O’Hanlon 90+2), Bray Wanderers 1 (McCabe 37).
St. Patrick’s Athletic: 1. Conor O’Malley; 2. Michael Barker, 15. Jordi Balk, 12. Lee Desmond,
3. Ian Bermigham; 8. Graham Kelly, 10. Killian Brennan; 7. Conan Byrne, 18. Kurtis Byrne, 20. Billy Dennehy; 9. Christy Fagan. Subs: JJ Lunney for K. Byrne (77); Josh O’Hanlon for Fagan (86); Rory Feely for Brennan (90+3). Not used: Darragh Markey, Barry Murphy, Steven Grogan, Alex O’Hanlon.
Bray Wanderers: 1. Peter Cherrie; 6. Keith Buckley, 2. Hugh Douglas, 4. Conor Kenna, 19. Kevin Lynch; 8. Mark Salmon,
3. John Sullivan; 7. Ryan Brennan, 11. Gary McCabe, 23. Jason Marks; 9. Aaron Greene. Subs: Ger Pender for Lynch (H/T); Darragh Noone for Sullivan (59); Karl Moore for Marks (73). Not used: Lee Steacy, Tim Clancy, Derek Foran, Anto Flood.
Referee: Neil Doyle.
Venue: Richmond Park, Inchicore, Co Dublin.