Match Report - Cobh Ramblers 3 Bray Wanderers 0

 

Bray finished the scheduled 2024 SSE Airtricity First Division season by fielding one of the youngest teams in the club’s history. 

Two second half penalties and a third score in injury time saw the Green and White’s five-game unbeaten streak come to an end against Cobh. 

With a play-off place already secured, no less than eight U20 players and three U17 players lined out for the Wicklow outfit’s squad which fell to a 3-0 away loss at St. Colman’s Park on Friday. 

Not one player from the starting XI that featured against Finn Harps were involved. 

That meant were no less than seven full League debuts for goalkeeper Edvinas Jakas; defenders Destiny Avenbuan and Leon Ajala; midfielders Alain Kizenga, Zayd Abada and Rhys Knight as well as striker Billy O’Neill. 

Alan Seruga, Joshua Kerr and Stefan Ugbesia then made their League debuts when coming off the bench in the second period. 

By coming on as an 85th minute substitute, Jack Lawless became the club’s second youngest ever first team player at 15 years and 269 days old. 

With Conor Knight wearing the captain’s armband, the centre half duo of Paul Murphy and Jamie Duggan returned to the team while Josh McGlone made his first start League start of the campaign. 

Jakas made two saves to thwart Jack Larkin (8) and then David Bosnjak on the half hour. 

Wanderers went close in the 39th minute when O’Neill and Rhys Knight combined to set-up Josh McGlone whose low attempt narrowly missed the left hand upright. 

There for still time for Jakas to deny Jack Larkin again in the 44th minute. 

The young custodian brought off another save to stop James O’Leary’s effort from the edge of the box two minutes after the interval. 

Bray threatened on 57 as Seruga broke clear off the left flank. But he was tackled as he shot with Darragh Burke making the stop. 

Ramblers were awarded a disputed 61st minute penalty as referee Alan Patchell harshly penalised Leon Ajala for handling Luka Le Bervet’s cross. Jack Larkin made no mistake from the spot. 

Bray hit back on 78. 

From Sergua’s corner, Rhys Knight sliced his shot with O’Neill’s follow up header being cleared for another corner. From Seruga’s delivery, Paul Murphy saw his low poke attempt deflected just wide. 

Dale Holland shot against a post on 82 before the home team doubled their advantage in the 87th minute. 

Paul Murphy was adjudged to have brought down sub David Eguaibor in the penalty area. Skipper Jason Abbott scored with a panenka from the 12-yard dead ball. 

With the tie in the 93rd minute, Wanderers lost possession just outside the 18-yard area. Jack Larkin reacted to in in left footed to put a gloss on a 3-0 victory that didn’t reflect the true nature of the game. 

 

Cobh Ramblers: Darragh Burke; Nolan Evers (Charlie O'Brien 89), Brendan Frahill, Dean Larkin, Luka Le Bervet (Michael McCarthy 89); Dale Holland, Jason Abbott; Jack Larkin, Pierce Phillips (Lucas Curtin 70), James O'Leary (David Eguaibor 63); David Bosnjak (Regix Madika 63). 

 

Subs not used: Justin Eguaibor, Arthur Nganou, Cathal O'Hanlon. 

 

Booked: Jack Larkin 51, Evers 69. 

 

Bray Wanderers: Edvinas Jakas; Leon Ajala (Joshua Kerr 64), Jamie Duggan, Paul Murphy, Destiny Avenbuan (Jack Lawless 85); Alain Kizenga, Zayd Abada (Alan Seruga 50); Conor Knight, Rhys Knight, Josh McGlone (Stefan Ugbesia 64); Billy O'Neill. 

 

Sub not used: Stephen Mc Guinness. 

 

Booked: McGlone 56, Ugbesia 81, Paul Murphy 88. 

 

Referee: Alan Patchell (Dublin). 

 

Pictures: Colm McDonagh (Cobh Sports).