Match Report - First Division Play-off Semi Final First Leg - Bray Wanderers 2 UCD 0
Posted on 25th October 2024 at 17:40
Bray Wanderers 2 UCD 0
Bray will take a two-goal cushion in the second leg of the First Division Play-Off Semi Final after defeating UCD.
In front of a crowd of 1,205 at the Carlisle Grounds on Thursday evening, goals in each period by Guillermo Almirall and Cristian Magerusan sealed the first leg victory.
Wanderers goalkeeper Jimmy Corcoran also made a couple of vital interventions which ensured they go in Monday’s second leg at the Bowl with an advantage.
The match was a repeat of the 2021 First Division final in which the Students won 2-0.
And in the four league meetings in the 2024 season, the Wicklow side had failed to beat the ‘College.
In fact, the success was Bray’s first over UCD since June 2021.
The Green and White’s lost Zach Nolan to injury on the quarter hour. That saw Kieran Cruise drop back to left-full with substitute John O’Sullivan coming onto the left wing.
But the Seasiders hit the front in the 17th minute.
Having evade two tackles down the touchline, Cruise whipped over an inviting cross for the left wing which went across the six-yard area. Kian Moore failed to gather under pressure from Magerusan ahead of him.
And Almirall arrived at the back post to convert for his sixth goal of the season.
The visitors only real chance of the opening period came in the seventh minute. A corner routine saw captain Ronan Finn – back after suspension – shoot in the box. But his effort was deflected for another corner.
Despite the away teams bright start, Wanderers had the better of the opening 45 minutes by pressing their opponents back.
But UCD regrouped after the interval.
They went close in the 56th minute as sub Ciaran Behan brought an immediate save out of Corcoran.
The ‘College then had a 66th minute penalty appeal turned down after Darren Craven challenged Sam Norval.
Bray sub Conor Knight was introduced in the 68th minute. And he needed just 90 seconds to make an impact.
Max Murphy's delicious touch over an opponent near the right half way line allowed Knight to embark on a mazy right wing run.
His driven cross saw Magerusan take a touch past a defender in the box. Then angled in a 15-yard low finish in the far bottom left corner of the net for hsoi 11th score of the campaign.
Yet, the Blue’s almost pulled one back seconds later.
But Corcoran pulled off a fantastic save to divert Luke O’Regan’s low attempt from 16-yards out for a corner.
Bray Wanderers: Jimmy Corcoran; Max Murphy, Kilian Cantwell, Cole Omorehiomwan, Zach Nolan (John O’Sullivan 15); Darren Craven, Harry Groome; Guillermo Almirall (Conor Knight 68), Shane Griffin, Kieran Cruise; Cristian Magerusan (Ben Feeney 78).
Subs not used: Jamie Duggan, Paul Murphy, Josh McGlone, Rhys Knight, Billy O’Neill, Stephen McGuinness.
Booked: Craven 47, Cruise 90 + 2.
UCD AFC: Kian Moore; Luke O’Regan, Eanna Clancy, Niall Holohan, Adam Wells; Ronan Finn; Sam Norval (Sean Brennan 74), Adam Verdon (Danu Kinsella Bishop 83), Jake Doyle (Ciaran Behan 55), Michael McCullagh (Stephen Mohan 55): Hugh Parker (Michael Raggett 74).
Subs not used: Alex Dunne, Donal Higgins, Harry Curtis, Dara Kavanagh.
Booked: O’Regan 50, Clancy 64.
Referee: Mark Houlihan (Kildare).
Mint+ Man of the Match: Darren Craven.
Pictures: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile.
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