Seagulls lose grip on the crown
DROGHEDA UNITED will enter the home straight with their noses in front as the First Division title race edges nearer to its climax.
Mark Doyle’s first-half header decided this top of the table clash at the Carlisle Grounds as Bray Wanderers lost their grip on the crown.
Victory for the Seagulls on Friday might have seen them with one hand on the trophy but Tim Clancy’s side now occupy the favourites tag, leaving Gary Cronin’s men looking for a favour from other sides in the second tier if they’re to catch the Boynesiders.
Cronin made just one change from the side that overcame Cobh Ramblers as Cavan man Sean McEvoy returned from suspension at Joe Doyle’s expense.
After an exciting opening, it was the hosts that threatened first. A diagonal pass from deep in midfield saw Ryan Graydon sneak behind his man and he got to the ball ahead of David Odumosu. He didn’t have full control of the ball though and his shot was blocked brilliantly by James Brown.
Drogheda fired back immediately as skipper Jake Hyland’s delicate through-ball found Mark Doyle goal-side of John Ross Wilson and he opened up his body as he attempted to find the corner but it zipped inches wide.
Hyland then saw his corner kick punched away by Maher. It landed at the feet of Doyle who went very close to opening the scoring from 25 yards.
From a Bray throw-in deep in Drogs territory, the visitors tried to break. Dylan Barnett intercepted but then fizzed a pass back towards his own goal which the busy Doyle won and his shot screeched narrowly wide as Barnett took a deep breath.
Just shy of the half hour mark, Drogheda made the vital breakthrough. Bray could not prevent the corner, nor could they prevent Doyle from nodding home from the flag kick either.
Callum Thompson tried to offer an instant response. The jetheeled winger won a 50-50 and
then squeezed by two Drogheda men before letting fly on the half-volley and it whistled wide.
The Seagulls would go agonisingly close as the interval approached. Graydon let a throw-in roll across his body and after a quick drop of the shoulder and an injection of pace; Graydon was through. He tried to bend it beyond Odumosu but the Drogs shot-stopper denied him with a marvellous fingertip save.
In an understandably tense second period, Hugh Douglas could have eased his side’s nerves on 62 minutes when he rose highest to meet a corner from the right but he guided his header over and he looked very frustrated with himself afterwards.
Gary Cronin made an attacking change with 21 minutes left on the attack as Joe Doyle replaced holding midfielder Jack Watson; the Bray boss was not going down without a fight.
And although Bray Wanderers had plenty of fight, they did not have enough bite. Hugh Douglas revelled in his defensive duties and was all-action as he fought tooth and nail for every ball.
Derek Prendergast - certainly not known for his pace - proved just how important your reading of the game can be as he snuffed out Callum Thompson runs time and time again.
Bray had all the possession in the second third and moved it around quite well but as soon as they tried to penetrate the final third, they came up against a brick wall.
The scene was set in the dying seconds for the Hollywood finish when Dylan Barnett stood over a free kick 25 yards out. The hometown boy with the chance to save the day with the final kick of the game? Sounds good on paper but it did not materialise in reality as his free struck the Drogheda
defensive wall - a literal defensive wall on that occasion.
The final whistle was greeted with screams of delight by the visitors. No league winners medals will be handed out yet but they know that they’re now the favourites and it is all in their hands.
Brian Maher; John Ross Wilson, Killian Cantwell, Aaron Barry, Dylan Barnett; Jack Watson; Callum Thompson, Sean McEvoy, Luka Lovic, Ryan Graydon; Gary Shaw. Subs: Darragh Lynch for Shaw (28); Joe Doyle for Watson (69); Derek Daly for Graydon (86). Not used: Adam Hayden, Tristan Noack Hoffman, Marlon Marishta.
David Odumosu; James Brown, Hugh Douglas, Derek Prendergast, Conor Kane; Brandon Bermingham, James Clarke, Jake Hyland, Mark Hughes, Mark Doyle; Stephen Meaney. Subs: Chris Lyons for Bermingham (H/T); Jack Tuite for Meaney (61); Luke Heeney for Clarke (61); Richie O’Farrell for Doyle (80). Not used: Ross Treacy, Adam Wixted, Ryan O’Shea.
Damien McGrath. Carlisle Grounds, Bray.