A pleasant surprise Bray demolish Derry challenge with stunning show
Maguinn Park DERRY CITY BRAY WANDERERS 0 5
IN this season of twists and turns, Bray Wanderers threw up a welcome surprise as they trounced Derry City 0-5 in Co. Donegal.
It meant that the Seagulls recorded a clean sweep of victories over the Candystripes but unlike both its predecessors, this tie didn’t require a late winner from Tim Clancy.
By half-time, Harry Kenny’s charges had raced into a commanding 0-3 lead thanks to strikes from Aaron Greene, Darragh Noone and Ryan Brennan.
The Co. Wicklow club added two more after the interval to record their biggest victory of the season – the second time that the Seasiders racked up five goals in a game this season.
Derry City even generously blazed over a late penalty to allow Peter Cherrie to keep his clean sheet on a night where Wanderers had the midas touch.
Having manage a 1-1 draw against Limerick FC in their last outing, Kenny fielded the same starting XI. The return from injury of Derek Foran was the only changed between the two 18-man matchday squads.
Keith Buckley joked after the match that the team scored a goal for each Bray fan that travelled and the first of the quintet arrived on 19 minutes.
Gary McCabe loaded the gun as he found Aaron Greene and the strike pulled the trigger with a brilliant driving run and a delicious chip over Gerard Doherty.
It took a fantastic reflex save to stop Derry from finding a leveller. Centre-half Eoin Toa got an effort away following a corner but a fine save from Cherrie kept the advantage at Bray’s door.
And how vital a save that would prove to be as Bray were three goals to the good within five minutes with Noone and Brennan both cashing in on some terrible defending.
Noone profited first. Greene and McCabe linked up in the build-up but it was an error from 20-year old left-back Ben Doherty that allowed Noone to dispatch his third league goal of the season.
Kenny Shiels then tore out quite a few hair follicles as he witnessed his side kick-off and lose possession through Nicky Low. Wanderers then cut through City’s defence like a hot knife through butter as Brennan stroke home his seventh of the campaign.
The hosts were shambolic in the first period and looked a million miles from the third best defence in the league.
If a comeback were to be on the menu, an early second half reply was essential but Cherrie ensured that it didn’t materialise as he pulled off another worldy to repel a Rory Patterson close-ranger on 47 minutes and then on 54 Cherrie used his legs to halt a vicious drive from the same man.
Wanderers put the tie beyond Derry City shortly before the hour mark. Brennan was left cursing his luck as his effort struck the post but McCabe reacted quickest to make it 0-4 following a brilliant team move.
Greene rubbed salt in the wounds as he snatched a second with 11 minutes of normal time to play with an expertly-taken goal.
You have to imagine that Derry City would gladly have wave the white flag at this stage had it been an option but further humiliation lurked around the corner for them as Aaron McEnefff turfed an 88th minute penalty high into the Donegal sky.
It was a thoroughly unexpected but most welcomed result for Bray Wanderers and it now gives them real hope of potentially pinching a European place with just four matches to go.
1. Gerard Doherty;
2. Conor McDermott, 27. Eoin Toal,
30. Aaron Barry, 23. Ben Doherty;
4. Aaron McEneff, 6. Nicky Low, 7. Barry McNamee; 21. Jamie McIntyre, 11. Rory Patterson, 9. Ronan Curtis. Subs: Jozef Dolny for Curtis (57); Lukas Schubert for McIntyre (70). Not used: Eric Grimes, Harry Monaghan, Michael Place, Cathal Farren, Sam Todd.
Derry City:
Bray Wanderers: 1. Peter Cherrie; 6. Keith Buckley, 4. Conor Kenna, 21. Tim Clancy, 10. Karl Moore; 22. Darragh Noone, 3. John Sullivan; 7. Ryan Brennan, 11. Gary McCabe, 23. Jason Marks; 9. Aaron Greene. Subs: Hugh Douglas for Kenna (67); Kevin Lynch for Marks (76); Ger Pender for Greene (82). Not used: Lee Steacy, Derek Foran, Luke Rossiter, Jake Ellis.
Neil Doyle. Maginn Park, Co. Donegal.
Referee: Venue: