Match Report - Bray Wanderers 3 Wexford FC 1
Posted on 27th July 2024 at 13:35
Bray Wanderers 3 Wexford FC 1
Bray climbed to fourth in the SSE Airtricity First Division play-off race courtesy of a 3-1 win over rivals Wexford.
Just two points separated the clubs before kick-off on Friday evening.
But that difference was stretched to five points at the final whistle at the Carlisle Grounds.
The Seasiders were unchanged from the side who went down to Shelbourne in the FAI Cup five days previous.
That meant there was first league starts for both goalkeeper Jimmy Corcoran and striker Ben Feeney since last March.
The only changes were on the bench were netminder Stephen McGuinness and defender Luke Smith joined the substitutes.
But it was the Slaneysiders who started the better.
Corcoran goat down well to left at the back post to keep out Mikie Rowe’s volley in the eighth minute.
In virtually the hosts for attack, they took the lead 18th minute.
In a superb team move started from the back, Kilian Cantwell, Feeney, and Guillermo Almirall linked before Darren Craven got involved.
He then exchanged passes with Cantwell and Feeney before finding Kieran Cruise on the left flank. The winger took on Kaylem Harnett before hitting a driven low left footed cross-shot. Former Wanderer Alex Moody got a diving part of his body to the ball. But it popped up towards the line and crossed it before Callum Thompson made sure it found the net.
But Wexford hit back to equalise in the 20th minute.
Corcoran made a great save parry out ex-Seagull Darragh Levingston’s long range.
Yet the loose ball off the left was put back into the danger zone by Thomas Oluwa with Aaron Dobbs side-footing in low from ten-yards.
However, the Green and White’s restored their advantage in the 23rd minute.
Max Murphy flighted a free near the right of the centre circle in the box. Cantwell sent a header back across goal.
Paul Murphy chest controlled then struck a half volley towards the six-yard area. Harnett then sliced the ball into his own net.
Feeney went close on 36 with his rasping 20-yard effort fizzing just over the bar.
The Purple and Gold’s spurned a great chance to draw level again in the 38th minute.
Rowe played in Dobbs off the right inside the penalty area. But the attacker skied over the bar with just Corcoran to beat.
In a tight second period, the visitors threatened on 72. But Corcoran pushed out Dobbs’ 20-yard shot.
Seven minutes later, the custodian gathered the forward’s header after sub Reece Webb had nodded back Oluwa’s centre.
The points were sealed in the 83rd minute when substitute Peter Grogan became the clubs leading scorer in the league this year with his seventh of the campaign.
Sub Zayd Abada found Max Murphy out right in the opposition half. He threaded a pass infield to Craven. The midfielder slipped a pass in the box to Grogan.
The sub stood up an away defender up then jinked right before angling a low drilled effort from 12-yards to the far bottom corner.
The visitors went close in the 90th minute.
Rowe hooked goalwards close in from Oluwa’s lofted pass. But Corcoran tipped the ball onto the bar and over.
Bray Wanderers: James Corcoran; Max Murphy, Kilian Cantwell, Paul Murphy, Zach Nolan (Cole Omorehiomwan 87); Darren Craven, Harry Groome; Callum Thompson (Zayd Abada 67), Guillermo Almirall (Conor Knight 87), Kieran Cruise; Ben Feeney (Peter Grogan 73).
Subs not used: Thomas Morgan, Luke Smith, Josh McGlone, Billy O'Neill, Stephen McGuinness.
Booked: Nolan 15, Groome 41, Craven 64, Cruise 68.
Wexford FC: Alex Moody; Kaylem Harnett (Reece Webb half time), Lewis Temple, Sean McHale, Mark Hanratty; Ethan Boyle (Cian Curtis 73), Kian Corbally (Conor Crowley 56); Mikie Rowe, Darragh Levingston (Adam Lennon 80), Thomas Oluwa; Aaron Dobbs.
Subs not used: Cian O'Malley, Divin Isamala, Luka Lovic, James Crawford, Conor Walsh.
Booked: Harnett 23, Webb 68.
Referee: Declan Toland.
Mint + Man of the Match: Jimmy Corcoran.
Pictures: Mick Hanney (Bray Camera Club).






















Tagged as: Senior Team
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