Seagulls secure hard-fought win in Waterford

loran saw him cross for Mark O’Sullivan. The ball dropped behind the striker but found Kenny McEvoy at the back post but his dipping cross was well cleared.

O’Halloran was again involved minutes later when he linked up well with Sander Puri, but the Estonian international couldn’t find the target with his strike.

Bray came into the game and Kevin Lynch began to cause the Blues problems – his cross on the quarter hour was met by the head of Pender but his overhead kick didn’t trouble Blues keeper Matthew Connor.

And Bray’s spell of pressure gave them the lead goal a minute later. Lynch again caused prob- lems down the left and his cross found Pender who headed past Matthew Connor to make it 1-0.

Lynch failed to complete the first half as he had to helped form the field of play after picking up an injury. Hometown boy Dylan Hayes was also bidding to win a contract and was scheduled to play at rightback against Waterford but he fell foul in the warm-up.

McEvoy had the Blues next chance but his effort was saved by Cherrie after good work from O’Sullivan.

It was a quality move that ensure the Blues went in at the break level. Patrick McClean picked out the brilliant run of Shane O’Connor with a pinpoint pass. His cross found Trialist A at the back post who squared for O’Sullivan to fire into the back of Cherrie’s net.

Aaron Greene hit the side netting for the visitors at the start of the second half after a god low pass from Gary McCabe, before the Blues had a great chance to turn the game around.

A good breaking move saw O’Halloran and O’Sullivan link up well through the middle, but O’Halloran just lost his footing as he looked to play McEvoy through on goal on the left.

Bray looked the more dangerous from then on and took the lead as the game entered the final quarter. Dylan Connolly picked up possession down the left and fired a quick-fire strike past Connor to make it 2-1 to the visitors.

And Bray made sure of the win in the final minutes with John Sullivan finding himself free in the penalty area with five minutes to go to make it 3-1.

WATERFORD FC: 1. Matthew Connor; 2. Robin Dempsey, 5. Gary Delaney, 4. Patrick McClean, 3. Shane O’Connor; 7. Dean O’Halloran, 8. Trialist A, 6. Garry Comerford, 11. Kenny McEvoy; 10. Sander Puri (Tunmise Sobowale 72), 9. Mark O’Sullivan. SUBS: Anthony McAlavey for Dempsey (55); Conor Whittle for O’Halloran (62); Trialist D for Connor (72); Trialist B for Delaney (72); Trialist C for Comerford (72); Owen Wall for McEvoy (72); Dean Walsh for O’Sullivan (72); Tunmise Sobowale for Puri (72).

BRAY WANDERERS: 1. Peter Cherrie; 2. Hugh Douglas, 4. Conor Kenna, 5. Derek Foran, 19. Kevin Lynch; 23. Jason Marks, 8. Mark Salmon, 7. Ryan Brennan, 11. Gary McCabe; 9. Aaron Greene, 17. Ger Pender. SUBS: Alan Kehoe for Lynch (45); Trialist B for Cherrie (55); Dylan Connolly for Marks (55); Jamie Aherne for Douglas (62); Keith Buckley for Brennan (62); John Sullivan for Pender (62); Darragh Noone for McCabe (80); Karl Moore for Greene (80). REFEREE: Pat O’Connor. VENUE: RSC, Waterford.