Bray People

Dastardly Dinny does the damage

- DANIEL GORMAN

SECOND spot slipped from Bray Wanderers’ grasp as dastardly Dinny Corcoran’s double saw Bohemians secure a come-frombehind victory.

Seagulls vice-captain Tim Clancy nodded the hosts into the lead on 22 minutes but slack defending saw Harry Kenny’s men trailing at the interval.

In total, Bray had 12 corners in the match – one which lead to a goal – but it perfectly portrays Bray’s dominance of possession and intent without any spark.

Their task wasn’t helped by the absence of suspended duo Gary McCabe and Mark Salmon but it was an extremely disappoint­ing evening’s work for Bray as they let a lead slip against Bohs for the second time this season.

An early flurry of corners eventually saw Bray cause a problem. At the third attempt, Karl Moore’s flag kick found Conor Kenna deep at the back post but his header had too much power on it and it flew over.

A constant tactic for Bray was to try and exploit the space behind Bohs’ full-backs with long balls and one such attempt found Kevin Lynch. He did very well to keep it in play and then played a cute pass to tee up Connolly – he tried to curl it to the far corner without taking a touch but a brilliant save from Shane Supple saw him turn it around the post.

It took until the 21st minute for Bohemians to register some danger in the Bray half. A corner wasn’t properly cleared and former Bray U-19 starlet Oscar Brennan eventually found room to rally a shot but Cherrie stuck out a leg to block it.

Moments later, Bray broke via Aaron Greene and it so nearly lead to the opener. Greene backed himself for pace and justifiabl­y so, buying himself the yard he need to blast towards the top corner and he may well have found had it not been for Supple’s fingertips somehow reaching the ball to help it wide.

Bray’s subsequent corner did see the first goal. It was cleared initially and curled back in by Dylan Connolly. Conor Kenna was on hand at the back stick to head it back across goal and his defensive side-kick Tim Clancy powered home his second goal of the season.

Six minutes was the precious lifetime of Bray’s lead. Keith Ward was afforded too much space, his raking pass was missed by Kenna, expertly killed on the chest by Corcoran and he somehow looped a sumptuous finish over Cherrie and to the far corner.

It didn’t exactly see Bohs ignite but there was an ember there. A one-two between Poynton and Ward saw the former hold off Lynch’s challenge but he fired into the side netting with Cherrie covering his near post.

Corcoran provided a sting in the tail at the end of the first half for the hosts. Paddy Kavanagh’s incisive pass released Ward into the penalty area. Cherrie rushed to meet him, the pair collided and while most seemed to be waiting for either a penalty or a simulation charge, Corcoran dispatched the loose ball to hand his side a rare lead.

The Dubliners were celebratin­g a third goal in the early minutes of the second period. Ward slipped a free kick to Ian Morris whose miscue rolled through to Daniel Byrne in the area. He shovelled the ball in to the net but the sight of Michelle O’Neill’s raised flag curtailed their celebratio­ns.

Bohs fans got over their anger at that decision and turned jovial as they decided to play a spot of ‘keep away’ anytime a Bray Wanderers player wanted a throw-in on their side.

Shane Supple was playing his own version of ‘keep away’ too as he kept anything that Bray could throw at him away from his goal. Kevin Lynch stung his hands as his free kick from 25 yards, hit with considerab­le oooomph, had to be turned over the bar.

That led to a corner that lead to Clancy eyeing up a brace but his shot from inside the condensed area was blocked down.

With 15 minutes to play, Kenny released forgotten man Ger Pender from the wilderness and he joined Anto Flood in a front two that showed Kenny’s intentions.

Bohemians were convinced they’d grabbed the insurance strike 12 minutes from time. Lorcan Fitzgerald tried to dance through the last line of defence and was tripped.

The ball rolled through for Keith Ward who steered his finish low and beyond Cherrie and the celebratio­ns began.

But there was Michelle O’Neill and her flag to ruin the Bohemians fun again. Bohemians fans seemed rather unenthused by the runners-up prize of a free kick for the foul on Fitzgerald.

Four minutes from time, Ger Pender was agonisingl­y close to forcing himself back into Kenny’s plans.

Keith Buckley chipped in a cross from the right and Pender darted onto it and glanced a header towards goal but it trickled inches wide.

There was still time for another wonderful opening for the hosts. Flood created it as his back-heel allowed Greene to nip through but his attempt to slot it past Supple was foiled as the shop-stopper somehow diverted it behind.

Scorers - Bray Wanderers 1 (Clancy 22), Bohemians 2 (Corcoran 28, 45): Bray Wanderers: 1. Peter Cherrie; 6. Keith Buckley, 21. Tim Clancy, 4. Conor Kenna, 19. Kevin Lynch; 3. John Sullivan, 10. Karl Moore; 23, Jason Marks, 7. Ryan Brennan, 16. Dylan Connolly; 9. Aaron Greene. Subs: Anto Flood for Marks (61); Ger Pender for Moore (75); Alan Kehoe for Lynch (85). Not used: Lee Steacy, Derek Foran, Ryan Robinson, Conor Earley.

Bohemians: 1. Shane Supple; 2. Derek Pender, 5. Rob Cornwall, 6. Dan Byrne, 18. Ian Morris; 16. Fuad Sule; 21. Georgie Poynton, 10. Keith Ward, 15. Oscar Brennan, 14. Paddy Kavanagh; 9. Dinny Corcoran. Subs: Lorcan Fitzgerald for Poynton (71); Philip Gannon for Ward (85); Dylan Hayes for Sule (90+3). Not used: Greg Murray, Jamie Hamilton, Stephen Nolan, Kaleem Simon. Referee: Jim McKell.

Attendance: 1193. Venue: Carlisle Grounds, Bray.

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 ??  ?? Fuad Sule of Bohemians in action against Jason Marks of BrayWander­ers during the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match between Bray Wanderers and Bohemians at the Carlisle Grounds.
Fuad Sule of Bohemians in action against Jason Marks of BrayWander­ers during the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match between Bray Wanderers and Bohemians at the Carlisle Grounds.

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