Bray Wanderers 1 Wexford FC 2
The club’s record breaking home winning run at the Carlisle Grounds came to an end on Friday when getting on the end of 2-1 defeat.
Somehow, despite Wanderers hitting the frame the goal twice, then having two goal line clearances, as well as a series of gilt-edged chances, a man of the match display by away goalkeeper Paul Martin helped the visitors leave Wicklow with a smash and grab SSE Airtricity First Division result.
From the home team who’d defeated Athlone Town at the same venue the week previous, there was one change. Benjamin Fagbemi came in at centre half with Harry Warren reverting to right back.
There was four changes amongst the substitutes as Paul Murphy, Cian Doyle, Cian Curtis and Richard Ferizaj took their places on the bench.
The woodwork denied the Green and White’s in the tenth minute when Warren headed against the post after Guillermo Almirall’s left endline cutback.
The Slaneysiders then took a 17th minute lead.
From the halfway line wide right, Calum Flynn cut back to send a through ball left footed. Mikie Rowe got there ahead of a defender before scoring with a close range half volley from 12-yards.
Martin bravely blocked out Max Murphy inside the penalty area on 23 after the full back had been played through by Fagbemi.
The Seagulls went close again in the 26th minute as Max Murphy’s thunderous shot from outside the box was tipped over by Martin. From the resulting Max Murphy corner, Warren headed across the face of goal.
In the 41st minute, Martin claimed Billy O’Neill’s chipped shot.
Two minutes later, O’Neill got to the left byline. Calum Costello wasn’t able to get his shot on target. At the back post, Rhys Knight reacted. But the away netminder smothered at the foot of the upright.
With the contest into the first minute of time added on, Almirall dinked over a right wing centre. Somehow, on the line, Martin blocked out Conor Knight’s bullet header.
The trend of Bray attacking and Wexford defending continued after the interval.
Almirall curled a 48th minute free in the ‘D wide of goal.
Less than a minute later, Costello hung up a cross from the right. At the back stick, Almirall steered a header beyond Martin, The covering Dean Larkin git back to clear off the line.
Almirall’s personal duel with Martin continued in the 54th minute, with the keeper keeping out the Spaniard’s 25-yard drive. Thirty seconds later, from nearly the exact same spot, the Seasiders’ midfielder clipped the crossbar.
Bray’s incessant pressure finally off in the 56th minute.
Max Murphys corner was cleared. Then so was Costello’s cross. Jimmy Corcoran played a pass to Rhys Knight on the halfway line., The teenager flighted a through ball onto the head of Max Murphy., His header went past Martin who got fingertips to the ball but couldn’t prevent it crossing the line.
However, Wexford went back in front just two minutes later.
Rowe’s 22-yard drive took a wicked defection off Fagbemi and rolled past a wrong-footed Corcoran.
The hosts almost snatched an equaliser in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
But sub Cian Doyle fizzed his shot past the far post when coming in off the right wing.
There was a flashpoint after the final whistle.
Following the incidents, referee Darragh White issued red cards to the Wexford duo of Conor Levingston and Martin as well as Bray coach Gavin Teehan.
Bray Wanderers: Jimmy Corcoran; Harvey Warren (Paul Murphy 52), Kilian Cantwell, Benjamin Fagbemi, Max Murphy; Rhys Bartley, Guillermo Almirall (Cian Doyle 64); Calum Costello (Richard Ferizaj 79), Rhys Knight (Danú Kinsella Bishop 79), Conor Knight (Cian Curtis 64); Billy O'Neill.
Subs not used: Thomas Considine, Jordan Tallon, Jamie Ryan, Stephen McGuinness.
Booked: O’Neill 32.
Sent off: Gavin Teehan (after final whistle)
Wexford FC: Paul Martin; Zayd Abada, Josh Lyons, Dean Larkin; James Crawford; Conor Levingston, Kaylem Harnett (Ryan Kelly 62); Calum Flynn (Ryan Scanlon 59), Darragh Levingston, Mikie Rowe; Aaron Dobbs.
Subs not used: Darragh Dunne, Henry Cromack, Mark Imiren, Filip Wasilewski, Harry Sherlock, Alex Moody.
Booked: Larkin 31, Marton 90 + 2, Crawford 90 + 6
Sent off: Conor Levingston, Martin (both after final whistle)
Referee: Darragh White (Dublin).
Pictures: Paul Barrett.
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