‘We’re still a good bit away from where we want to be’

GARY CRONIN knows that sterner tests lie ahead but was happy to declare mission accomplished on Friday evening after a workmanlike 2-0 victory over Wexford FC.

An own goal midway through the first period was added to in the dying minutes of stoppage time as Bray Wanderers got their first points on the board but Cronin knows his team will have to improve if they’re to be title contenders.

‘It’s nice to get off to a home win. It was our first home game of the season and that was obviously our objective. It was pleasing tonight that we grinded it out with a clean sheet. It was a tough game.

‘Wexford were well organised – they got a good result last week against a good UCD side so I was happy to get the three points tonight but I have to say; hats off to the people that organised the pitch tonight and the ground, it looked fantastic and the pitch was excellent.

‘We’re still a good bit away from where we want to be in relation to the kind of football we want to play but that’s natural enough with new players.’

Cronin deployed Dylan Barnett at left wing instead of his usual leftback slot against Wexford and the Bray man could lay claim to two assists; his volley was deflected in for the own goal and it was his rebounded shot that Moran tucked away.

‘Cronin likes having players with versatility and was glad his side put the misery of the Cabinteely result behind them.

‘Dylan can play anywhere on the left really. He bombs on from left-full anyway so I just wanted to push him on from a more advanced area and that’s something that we’ve been working on.

‘A lot of our plans didn’t go to plan this evening though and that’s down to Wexford doing very well.

‘I’m happy with the attributes that our wide players have. Derek (Daly) can obviously play out wide as well and probably will do more often that not and Ryan Graydon on the other side is direct.

‘I was really pleased with the performance with the ball and without the ball.

‘When you look back at last week, there were loads of goals in the games but we came out the wrong end of a horrendous night for both teams.

‘We’ve scored four goals in our two games, obviously disappointing that we conceded four in the first 45 minutes last week but we just want to create more and be better with the ball.’

Longford Town look mightily impressive even at this very early stage and Cronin – who spent the best part of a decade there – knows his side can’t afford to suffer on their travels in 2020 like they did in 2019.

‘It’s one of the areas that we need to improve on, last year we had seven defeats on the road and we were actually very poor on the first visit to Longford.

‘We’ll have a look at Longford and they’ll have a look at us and I’ll decide what the best way for us to approach that is.

‘It’ll be tough but it’ll be tough for both sides.’