Fourth loss in a row for Seagulls
BRAY WANDERERS SLIGO ROVERS 1 0
OVER 12.5 per cent of the season has elapsed and Bray Wanderers are still yet to land their maiden victory.
Their opening day draw with Dundalk grew more distant as a Caolan McAleer double in the first half ensured that it would be a fourth defeat on the bounce for the Seagulls.
Paul O’Conor gave Dave Mackey’s side hope in the second half but yet again, the Seasiders came up short as they remain rooted to the foot of the table.
Following on from the disappointment of Friday’s loss to Limerick, three changes were made to the hosts’ starting XI. Sean Heaney was preferred to Hugh Douglas, while Daniel Kelly and Ger Pender were handed their first league starts as Wanderers tried a 4-4-2 formation.
Bray were thanking the crossbar for saving them after eight minutes. Gary Boylan delivered the cross from the right. Adam Morgan was allowed to have two touches neither succesful - before it fell to Ally Roy. His drive was blocked by Aaron Dillon and the rebound from David Cawley rattled the crossbar.
Sligo then gave Aaron Greene some space on the edge of the area - not something you should do often - and his stinging drive required two attemts to save for Micheal Schlingerman.
The breakthrough came out of nothing. David Cawley fed McAleer 25 yards out and his strike was decent but not spectacular but it sailed over the head of the unconvincing Dillon.
Seven minutes later, the winger doubled his tally. Bray defender Sean Heaney got in a muddle and tried a pass that did Kevin Lynch no favours. McAleer burst onto the ball and rounded Dillon before coolly slotting home.
Defensive mistakes have plagued Bray this season and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by Mackey.
“We need to regroup and make sure that we work hard on the training ground to resolve those defensive areas. Concentration is a key element of good defending. It’s a combination of factors. We need to get back to the basics of good defending. We’re leaving ourselves with mountains to climb.”
Former Liverpool starlet Adam Morgan showed a flash of his ability when he killed a McAleer cross with his first touch and unleashed a rocket with his second but Dillon managed to tip it over.
Right on the stroke of half time, Rovers fans were baying for a red card. Greene’s loose pass was snapped up by McAleer and just as it looked like they had a twoon-one, a tug from Heaney ended the attack. Sean Grant deemed a yellow card to be fair.
Dave Mackey made two changes at the interval and altered his formation and it paid dividends in the 64th minute. Lynch somehow negotiated his way past three defenders and his low centre found Paul O’Conor who drilled home first time.
Ally Roy had spurned a chance to kill off the tie on 53 minutes when a Rhys McCabe threaded pass released him but Dillon thwarted the attacker.
Despite decent pressure, Bray never looked capable of forcing an equaliser. Although Mackey admits two goals in five games is a poor return, he wants to concentrate on shoring things up at the back before anything else.
“That’s another area that we have to work on (scoring goals). The basis that we’re trying to work on is having a strong defensive base. Once we get that, I think everything else will flow from there. That’s really the priority. If we can keep ourselves in games (we’ll always have a chance).”
On Friday, Bray travel to Derry to take on the Candystripes in their newly developed Brandywell Stadium. During its debut on Monday, City thumped Limerick 5-0 so the signs are ominous for Wanderers. But trips to Derry will not define their season - matches like Monday’s will.
“We definitely had targeted this game as a very good opportunity to kick-start our season. Unfortunately, what’s blighted our season so far is giving away soft goals. That’s something which is a huge disappointment to us.”
Bray Wanderers: 1. Aaron Dillon;
16. Dan McKenna, 4. Conor Kenna, 5. Sean Heaney; 17. Daniel Kelly, 6. Paul O’Conor, 21. Gary McCabe, 10. Aaron Greene; 19. Ronan Coughlan, 9. Ger Pender. Subs: Cory Galvin for Pender (H/T); John Sullivan for D. Kelly (H/T); Darragh Noone for McCave (66). Not used: Evan Moran, Darragh Gibbons, Hugh Douglas, Dylan Hayes.
Sligo Rovers: 1. Micheal Schlingerman; 2. Gary Boylan, 5. Kyle Callan-McFadden, 6. Seamus Sharkey, 18. Calum Waters; 17. Caolan McAleer, 22. David Cawley, 4. Eduardo Pinceli, 7. Rhys McCabe, 14. Ally Roy; 9. Adam Morgan. Subs: Lewis Morrisson for Pinceli (70); Greg Moorehouse for Morgan (88); Jack Keaney for Roy (90+3). Not used: Ed McGinty, Craig Roddan, Adam Wixted, Rafaello Cretaro.
Referee: Sean Grant. Venue: Carlisle Grounds, Bray.