Seagulls soar after victory over Wexford Youths away
Seagulls cope well without Connolly
IN 2017, the Republic of Ireland could seal qualification for the next World Cup, Donald Trump or Hilary Clinton could be enjoying their first full year as the president of America but one thing we know for sure is that Bray Wanderers will be playing in the Premier Division.
Any doubt was eliminated on Friday evening as the Seagulls squashed Wexford Youths and Harry Kenny’s men no longer fear the drop; automatically or via play-off.
Wexford hurling ace Lee Chin may have dominated the headlines in the build-up but he couldn’t help Youths from sliding to a 1-3 defeat which was smoothed over by Shane Dempsey’s late consolation strike for the home side.
The Co. Wicklow club travelled south with a skip in their step following three successive victories but there was a hint of a limp in that gait with the absence of Dylan Connolly due to suspension.
That, coupled with an injury to Darragh Noone, meant a reshuffle for Harry Kenny that saw Alan Kehoe start on the left flank and Alan McNally reborn as a defensive midfielder.
It was the perfect chance for Youths to close the gap on Finn Harps with Bray’s key man – Connolly – unavailable. They started in the right manner and Paul Murphy hooked a shot narrowly wide after four minutes.
Wanderers went into this tie having conceded just one goal in their previous three outings but a few early missile throw-ins from Craig McCabe caused Bray problems with Chin sniffing around without the fear being blown up for a square ball.
With 15 minutes elapsed, ex-Arklow Town star Andy Mulligan delivered a superb long ball for Murphy but after initially miscontrolling, the striker’s rushed shot was dealt with by Bray captain Conor Kenna.
The oldest man on the pitch would inspire the opening goal. Alan McNally rolled back the years as the 34-year old strode out of midfield with the ball at feet before releasing Jason Marks. He failed to notch his first goal for the Seagulls as Graham Doyle thwarted him but Mark Salmon kept his wits about him to convert the rebound.
Wexford were almost left chasing a two-goal deficit by the interval. Chin received a caution for a foul on Pender and Moore’s free kick was met in typically robust fashion by Hugh Douglas but it failed to hit the target.
Youths briefly celebrated a leveller in the 50th minute when Aidan Keenan made the net bulge but his effort was disallowed.
The hour mark saw the tie probably put beyond the reach of the hosts. Left-back Andrew O’Connor tried to find goalkeeper Graham Doyle but his pass was too weak. O’Connor’s eyes widened with horror as he saw Pender move into the path of the ball, take it around the shot-stopper and slot it to the empty net from an acute angle.
That strike made it an incredible four goals in as many matches for the ex-Longford Town, Cabinteely and Drogheda United marksman who had managed just one league goal up to then.
And he could have added a second shortly afterwards but he fired wide from a good position. A third goal did arrive though.
Summer signing Kevin Lynch picked the ball up on the edge of the Wexford area and drilled a low shot that Doyle could not keep out. It was a first goal in the colours of Bray Wanderers for the left-back and it put the result beyond doubt.
Shane Keegan’s men refused to throw the towel in however and, with goal difference potentially having a bearing come the season’s end, they pulled one back late on.
Chin had already forced Peter Cherrie into his only troubled save of the evening when he met Jonathan Bonner’s cross with a diving header but Cherrie could not repel Shane Dempsey’s effort with two minutes to play.
The three points gained in Ferrycarrig Park lift Bray Wanderers to seventh place and just two points shy of fifth spot. This Friday sees Bray Wanderers host Bohemians, currently sitting in sixth and two points clear of the Seagulls. Prior league meetings this season have yielded a draw and a defeat for Bray.
Scorers - Wexford Youths 1 (Dempsey 88).
Bray Wanderers 3 (Salmon 20, Pender 60, Lynch 73).
Wexford Youths: 1. Graham Doyle; 2. Craig McCabe, 5. Lee Grace, 6. Lee Chin, 24. Andrew O’Connor; 11. Eric Molloy, 25. Shane Dempsey, 17. Jonathan Bonner, 7. Andy Mulligan; 10. Aidan Keenan, 20. Paul Murphy. Subs: Shane Dunne for Mulligan (H/T). Not used: Corey Chambers, Peter Higgins, Danny Furlong, Christopher Kenny, Aidan Friel, Eoin Porter.
Bray Wanderers: 1. Peter Cherrie; 2. Hugh Douglas, 21. Tim Clancy, 4. Conor Kenna, 19. Kevin Lynch; 5. Alan McNally; 11. Jason Marks, 8. Mark Salmon, 10. Karl Moore, 15. Alan Kehoe; 17. Ger Pender. Subs: Andrew Lewis for Pender (68); Chris Lyons for Clancy (76); Sean Harding for Marks (79). Not used: Lee Steacy, Daniel Blackbyrne, Gareth McDonagh, Dean Kelly. Referee: James McKell. Venue: Ferrycarrig Park.