Seagulls can’t halt Wexford’s progress
WEXFORD YOUTHS BRAY WANDERERS 2 0
BRAY WANDERERS under-19s watched Wexford Youths improved form continue as they leap-frogged the Seaguls courtesy of 2-0 victory in the SSE Airtricity League Under-19 Southern Elite Division in Ferrycarrig Park on Friday last.
The host’s third win in four games sees them jump out of last place and sends their Wicklow opponents to their old position at the foot of the table.
Wexford were forced to be patient as they went in search of goals on Friday evening but their patience eventually paid dividends as Dean George and Danny Doyle both struck in the final quarter of an hour.
In truth the game started very slowly, as you would expect of a clash between the leagues bottom two sides.
The first sniff either team had at a shot was around the quarter hour mark. It was Luke Rossiter who sailed Bray’s first opportunity well over the crossbar while Adam Feeney saw his tame header from Dylan Bradley’s pull back easily saved.
The visitors arguably shaded an opening 45 minutes, where both sides squandered possession easily as medium to long range passes seemed to be the order of the day.
Rossiter crashed a free-kick into the Wexford wall moments before Adam Dempsey needed to be on his toes to dive on the ball after a positive run by Bray winger David Gilsehan.
At the other end Dean George was looking most dangerous, he found himself in shooting positions on number of occasions but lacked the composure to get a decent strike away.
The two closest shaves came towards the end of the half. Wanderers Gavin Howard swivelled and saw his shot cannon off the back stanchion from the edge of the box while Vincent Quinlan almost fired Wexford ahead on the stroke of half-time. He shot inches wide from 25 yards after Bradley’s short free.
After the interval the game started very even once again, but as the half progressed it was clear that the home side were the ones pushing for a winner.
Feeney and Daniel Madaghjian both wasted chances for their sides early on while Neil Murphy made an important tackle to deny Gilsehan on the hour mark.
Gilsehan was involved again minutes later when he linked up with Rossiter to feed Madaghjian, who pulled a good save from Dempsey in the Wexford goal.
Wexford were getting closer themselves as the clock ticked into the 70’s. Quinlan had a good effort denied at the near post before Doyle’s header clipped the outside of the post before flying harmlessly wide.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 77th minute and the part played by goalkeeper Adam Dempsey cannot be ignored. His quick thinking from an opposition corner set Doyle away on goal before the winger was brought down on the edge of the box.
Dean George stepped up and sent his free through a gap in the wall and into the bottom right corner of the net.
The win was assured ten minutes later from another set piece. Bradley’s corner was met powerfully by Doyle and, despite some late Bray pressure, Wexford held out for a hard earned clean sheet and three points.
Bray Wanderers head for Galway for their next fixture on September 17 where they will hope for a morale-boosting victory.
Wexford Youths: Adam Dempsey; Vincent Quinlan, Adam Rochford, Martin O’Connor (capt.), Neil Murphy; Michael Gardiner, Cian Doyle, Dean George, Dylan Bradley, Danny Doyle; Adam Feeney. Subs: Robbie Kane for Doyle (69), Yaw Aboagye for George (80), Jack Healy for Quinlan (85). Also, Alan Maher-Broderick, Liam Berry, Callum Travers-Devlin.
Bray Wanderers: Malachy Doyle; Luke Clucas, Aaron Hennessy, Jack Whelan, Dylan Hennessy; Gavin Howard, Luke Rossiter (capt.), David Gilsehan, Cormac Kelly, Stephen Morley; Daniel Madaghjian. Subs: Nathan Wolohan.