So near and yet so far to first soccer win
Bray’s late leveller followed by a second in extra-time
WEXFORD F.C. were 30 seconds away from securing their first win of the season in Ferrycarrig Park on Tuesday, but then they went and blew it all by conceding two goals to Bray Wanderers as a result of unforced errors in this EA Sports Cup first round tie.
It meant that, less than 40 minutes after being on the verge of victory, frustration was the over-riding emotion as the club’s record of never getting past the initial hurdle in this competition since the re-branding at the start of 2017 continues.
Wexford F.C. lost 5-0 to Waterford in the opening round three years ago, bowed out on penalties to Cobh Ramblers in 2018, and went down 3-2 to Tuesday’s opponents in the Carlisle Grounds last March.
And while the performances in this new campaign have been a lot more encouraging thus far, this game should have been closed out before Bray pounced at the death to force extra-time.
The lead goal for Wexford – their first since the opening night of the season at the same venue – was a real gem, arriving in the 55th minute after a flowing move.
Centre-half James Carroll cleared his lines from deep in defence, releasing Kaleem Simon for an initial run before he picked out Seán Roche on the right flank.
The centre-forward’s low cross was perfectly placed for Janabi Amour to race in from the left wing and register his first goal for the club from close range.
It was no more than Wexford deserved, and it prompted Bray to gradually introduce three strong reinforcements in the shape of striker Joe Doyle, midfield enforcer Paul Keegan, and the playmaking Luka Lovic.
All three certainly improved the visitors’ fortunes, but their rivals coped admirably for the most part as Wanderers didn’t create any chance of note – save for one Paul Cleary block on a Dean O’Shea shot – before four extra minutes were announced at the end of normal time.
Wexford had safely negotiated all bar the last 30 seconds of that period when disaster struck.
A long ball launched by netminder Adam Hayden in the general direction of the opposition’s box was misjudged by a defender, with the experienced Paul Keegan pouncing on the error.
He quickly released Joe Doyle whose predatory instincts were clear for all to see as he beat Colum Feeney with a low finish.
It was a sickener to be so close to victory, only to be denied and forced into 30 minutes of extra-time on a very mild evening weather-wise, favourable for decent football for a change.
Just one more goal was added, with the Wicklow side availing of another mistake at the start of the second period to inflict maximum punishment.
Substitute Karl Manahan gave the ball away close to the left flank around midfield, and that was sufficient invitation for Conor Behan to drive forward before picking out Joe Doyle.
He waited for Feeney to commit, moving to his right and away from the grounded goalkeeper before doubling his tally and ultimately giving Bray a victory that had looked most unlikely right up to the 90th minute.
The teams bore no resemblance to the league meeting between the sides in the Carlisle Grounds on February 28, won 2-0 by Wanderers.
Tristan Noack-Hofmann was the only one of their starting eleven from that tie to be retained, while Wexford manager Brian O’Sullivan made five changes.
Goalkeeper Colum Feeney and another survivor from last season, Lee Costello, were selected for the first time in 2020, with starts handed to Kristian Crawford, Patrick O’Sullivan and Seán Roche whose appearances beforehand had come off the bench.
Bray created the better openings in a scoreless first-half, although Wexford went toe-to-toe with them in general play and the sides were well matched.
Feeney got down swiftly at the feet of Conor Behan to thwart his best intentions on a couple of occasions, while he wasn’t troubled by a decent half-volley from distance by Dean O’Shea that veered left and wide in the 13th minute.
Attempts at the other end from Janabi Amour and Kaleem Simon were blocked, while goalkeeper Adam Hayden darted off his line to ensure that Karl Fitzsimons didn’t find his intended target, Simon, with a long ball.
Brandon McCann shot low to the left and wide after a Conor Behan cross broke into his path, while Simon couldn’t keep his free-kick down after being fouled just outside the area on the right in the 29th minute.
Bray came closest to breaking the deadlock twice in a 20-second spell, with a high, hanging cross from the left by Dean O’Shea met with a meaty header by Darragh Lynch.
Colum Feeney got down low to his right to make the save, but Wexford lost possession cheaply after he tried to set up a quick counter-attack.
It meant that Lynch was afforded another opportunity, this time with his boot rather than his head, but the crossbar came to the rescue after he lofted a left-footed shot over Feeney.
Seán Roche got neither power nor accuracy behind a speculative attempt in the 37th minute, while Jake Ellis was foiled twice in his attempts to give Bray the lead before half-time.
In the first instance, Feeney got down low to stop his side-footed effort from a Lynch cross, and then the netminder saved with his feet after Ellis stole in behind Kristian Crawford when the full-back misjudged a long delivery.
Amour’s well-worked and well-taken goal was the highlight of a third quarter that also featured bookings for Seán Roche and the scorer, along with the introduction of Conor English and Karl Manahan for Kaleem Simon and Patrick O’Sullivan respectively.
O’Sullivan’s last act was to pick out Amour for a low shot from long range that was comfortably saved, and the offside flag intervened to deny Wexford a second goal in the 77th minute.
Roche released Manahan whose composed finish between the legs of netminder Adam Hayden was chalked off, and it was a real shame because a second at that stage would surely have sealed victory.
Roche blasted a free-kick off the wall to earn the sole corner of the second-half, and although he had a fresh air attempt at Cian Kavanagh’s delivery, the ball did travel through to Conor English whose shot was blocked.
Good hold-up play by Roche led to a half chance in the 85th minute, but English’s cross went harmlessly wide via the head of Kavanagh whose connection wasn’t particularly strong.
Naturally, Wexford were deflated after the concession of that last-gasp goal, and they resumed with club captain Dan Tobin on the field as the hard-running Roche was replaced.
Their best effort in the first additional 15 minutes was a Cian Kavanagh free-kick that tailed left and wide at the angle of post and crossbar.
In contrast, Bray created the better openings, with Feeney diverting an early header over with his fingertips for the first of three fruitless corners in that spell.
And after conceding again on the re-start, the busy Wexford netminder then had to deal with a Paul Keegan volley which was the last chance for Wanderers to make the game safe.
The home side continued to work hard and couldn’t be faulted for effort, but they didn’t test goalkeeper Adam Hayden and had to accept defeat after a couple of shots were blocked in a scramble with two minutes remaining.
What happens next – similar to every sport – is in the lap of the gods, but on the basis of performances to date, it’s fair to say that two draws and two losses from four competitive games played isn’t a fair reflection of the application shown by this new group.
Wexford F.C.: Colum Feeney; Paul Cleary, James Carroll, Lee Costello, Kristian Crawford; Karl Fitzsimons, Conor Crowley (capt.); Kaleem Simon, Patrick O’Sullivan, Janabi Amour; Seán Roche. Subs. - Conor English for Simon (62), Karl Manahan for O’Sullivan (68), Cian Kavanagh for Amour (80), Dan Tobin for Roche (ET), also Azeez Yusuff, Jack Lydon, Charlie Smith.
Bray Wanderers: Adam Hayden (capt.); Cian Maher, Darragh Gibbons, Tristan Noack-Hofmann, Dean O’Shea; Brandon McCann, Jack Watson; Jake Ellis, Conor Behan, Glen Hollywood; Darragh Lynch. Subs. - Joe Doyle for Ellis (69), Paul Keegan for Lynch, inj. (83), Luka Lovic for Hollywood (84), John Ross Wilson for Watson (99), also Cian Walsh, Brian Maher.
Referee: Alan Patchell (Dublin).