Dundalk 3 Bray Wanderers 1
With the business end of the campaign approaching, Bray suffered a SSE Airtricity Men's First Division away loss against leaders Dundalk.
Amid the drizzle on Friday evening, the home club led 2-0 at the break at Oriel Park.
They then went 3-0 up early in the second period before Wanderers made it 3-1 late on.
The only consolation was, with second placed Cobh Ramblers defeating Treaty United 3-0 at St. Colman’s Park, was that the Seagulls (still in third) are assured of at least a fourth placed finish this term.
From the team who’d defeated Athlone Town last week at the Carlile Grounds, there was three changes.
In came Alain Kizenga (at right-back) and Billy O’Neill (in a striking role) after Republic of Ireland U17 and U19 duty.
Benjamin Fagbemi slotted in at left-full.
When the clubs met at the same venue last May, Gbemi Arubi came off the bench to claim a last-gasp injury-time equaliser for the Lilywhite’s.
This time round, his first half double had the Louth side 2-0 up at the interval.
They broke the dead-lock in the eight minute. From a throw in their own half along the left, the hosts played through the middle.
Former Wanderer Harry Groome slipped the ball out right to Eoin Kenny. He whipped over a cross for Arubi to steer in a close range downward header.
Dundalk added to that tally in the 34th minute.
A quick throw in off the left flank saw Declan McDaid find Groome. He teed up Arubi who swivelled to hit a 16-yard left footed drive to the right hand corner of the net.
Both Sean Brennan and Cian Curtis were sprung from the bench by the Wicklow outfit after the turnaround.
Brennan went close to pulling one back in the 50th minute.
Gathering Fagbemi’s pass, the midfielder danced into the box. His low shot then kissed the left hand upright and wide.
With the third score of the contest always going to be crucial, it went the home sides way in the 54th minute.
After a corner was cleared, Kenny threaded a pass into the 18-yard area for Shane Tracey. He was blocked off. But the ball rebounded back to Kenny who curled first time through a crowded box from 15-yards.
With ten minutes of normal time remaining, Wanderers pulled one back.
From a home free wide left, sub Max Murphy won possession, He broke straight up the middle.
Surrounded by Dundalk players, the full back played a slide rule pass to release the onrushing Harvey Warren. The centre half then squeezed the ball low past ex-Seagull Peter Cherrie from the edge of the box.
With the final whistle approaching, Jimmy Corcoran launched a long ball forward. Curtis flicked on in the 92nd minute.
O’Neill gathered but went down in the box under the challenge of Andy Paraschiv.
Instead of awaiting a penalty, referee Aaron O’Dowd produced a yellow card for supposed simulation.
Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Conor O Keeffe (Luke Mulligan 82), Mayowa Animasahun, Vincent Leonard, John Ross Wilson; Aodh Dervin; Eoin Kenny (Andy Paraschiv 76), Harry Groome (Dean Ebbe 76), Shane Tracey 9 Norman Garbett 76), Declan McDaid (Keith Ward 82); Gbemi Arubi.
Subs not used: Sean Spaight, TJ Molloy Murray, Rohan Vaughan, Enda Minogue.
Booked: Dervin 61.
Bray Wanderers: Jimmy Corcoran; Alain Kizenga, Kilian Cantwell, Harvey Warren, Benjamin Fagbemi (Max Murphy 68); Cian Doyle (Sean Brennan half time), Rhys Bartley; Guillermo Almirall (Cian Curtis half time), Rhys Knight (Richard Ferizaj 83), Justin Ferizaj (Conor Knight 68); Billy O'Neill.
Subs not used: Jamie Duggan, Paul Murphy, Jamie Ryan, Stephen McGuinness.
Booked: Doyle 3, Rhys Knight 12, Warren 73, O’Neill 90 +2.
Referee: Aaron O’Dowd (Dublin).
Pictures: Paul Barrett.
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