Match Report - Cork City 1 Bray Wanderers 0

 

Despite a solid performance, Bray went down narrowly to SSE Airtricity First Division leaders Cork. 

The visitors were superb – especially in the opening period – when they pressed the Leesiders on Friday evening at Turner’s Cross. 

The vital score came against the run of play just before the interval. 

While Stephen McGuinness was rarely troubled on his 100th appearance for the club, home goalkeeper Bradley Wade put on their man of the match display by pulling off a string of top notch saves 

From the side who beaten Athlone Town 1-0 earlier this month at the Carlisle Grounds, there was two changes to Wanderers’ starting line-up. 

Kieran Cruise slotted in at left back. Callum Thompson came into the right wing. 

There was positional changes too. Zach Nolan partnered Kilian Cantwell at the heart of the defence. Freddie Turley slotted into central midfield with Darren Craven pushed more forward. 

On the bench, U17 players Luke Smith and Billy O’Neill were included amongst the substitutes. 

In the two previous meetings this season, City scored twice early in each tie. But this time it was Wanderers – playing in Royal Blue – who started the better of the clubs. 

In the fifth minute, Cruise sent over a cross from the left. Magerusan tried a scorpion kick which saw Wade spectacularly tip over his bar. 

Five minutes later, the ball broke into Darren Craven’s path off the right of the box. He squeezed his low attempt under the keeper. But the covering Darragh Crowley cleared before the line. 

The Wicklow side continued to probe. In the 20th minute, Thompson’ cross from the right took a deflection and hung in the air off. Magerusan challenged two defenders at the near post. But his placed header dropped just wide. 

Against the run of play, the Rebels hit the front in the 44th minute. 

Greg Bolger lofted a pass to the left of the penalty area. Evan McLaughlin then drove low in the far bottom right corner of the net. 

As the rain came down at the interval, the Munster outfit made took changes at the break, bringing on Conor Drinan and Jack Doherty. They then controlled the early stages. 

McGuinness pushed out Crowley’s 55th minute drive. 

Six minutes later though, Harry Groome intercepted. He then found Magerusan who set up Craven whose shot from the ‘D was straight at Wade. 

City responded with Drinan shooting low but wide on 61 from 22-yards. 

Seconds later, Cian Murphy held off the attentions of Nolan. McGuinness narrowed the angle in the box with the forward’s effort going across the empty goal. 

But it was Bray – against a full-time outfit – who finished the stronger. 

Wade smothered Max Murphy’s long range attempt in the 71st minute. 

Then on 78, somehow the Seagulls didn’t equalise. 

Turley clipped in a cross from the right. It was met by Magerusan’s diving header close in. Yet Wade made a point-block save to claw the ball off the line. 

In stoppage time, Turley – the best player in the second half on the pitch – saw his curling shot from 25-yard brilliantly turned over the bar by Wade. 

 

Cork City: Bradley Wade; Darragh Crowley, Cian Coleman, Charlie Lyons, Evan McLaughlin; Greg Bolger, Barry Coffey, Joshua Fitzpatrick (Jack Doherty half time), Sean Murray (Conor Drinan half time), Malik Dijksteel (Cathal O'Sullivan 68); Cian Murphy. 

 

Subs not used: Harry Nevin, John O'Donovan, Harvey Skieters, Arran Healy, Oran Crowe, Aidan Dowling 

 

Booked: Doherty 77, Lyons 81, Bolger 90 + 2. 

 

Bray Wanderers: Stephen Mc Guinness; Max Murphy, Kilian Cantwell, Zach Nolan, Kieran Cruise; Harry Groome, Freddie Turley; Callum Thompson, Darren Craven, Guillermo Almirall (Peter Grogan 82); Cristian Magerusan. 

 

Subs not used: Paul Murphy, Thomas Morgan, Luke Smith, Zayd Abada, Conor Knight, Josh McGlone, Billy O'Neill, Ben Clark. 

 

Booked: Magerusan 33. 

 

Referee: Marc Lynch. 

 

Pictures: Michael P Ryan (Sportsfile).