Match Report - Leinster Senior Cup - Athlone Town 1 Bray Wanderers 1

 

 

A very young Bray team put on a commendable performance to claim a draw away against a strong Athlone team on Monday evening. 

But the result means the Wicklow side cannot advance from the Permanent TSB LFA Senior Cup Group C. 

Having lost 2-1 away to Patrick’s Athletic back in January, the 1-1 draw at the Athlone Town stadium meant that St. Pat’s and Athlone secured the top two placings in the section. 

The Seasiders handed full senior club debuts to defenders Harvey Warren and Benjamin Fagbemi as well as striker Leon Keogh. 

There were first starts of the 2025 season for goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness, defender Alain Kizenga and winger Philip Cooney. 

Dylan Barnett captained the side from left back in what was his first competitive senior game for the club since November 2021. 

All that meant the average of the team was 20.09. 

New Chilean signing Benjamin Villalobos was included amongst the substitutes for the first time. 

He was joined on the bench by U20 players Max McLaughlin and Caleb O'Neill (who would both debut in the second half), Joshua Kerr, Destiny Avenbuan, Ethan Cheese and Edvinas Jakas. 

The Midlanders got off a flying start and took an 11th minute. 

John Ross Wilson sent over a right wing cross which was met by Kyle Robinson’s looping header which dropped to the net at the far left post. 

The only other chance of note in the period saw Cooney’s 25th minute drive parried out by Lee Axworthy. 

But the Green and White’s came out a different proposition for the second half. 

A sweeping 51st minute move saw Richard Ferizaj find Calum Costello wide right. His whipped cross set-up Barnett to divert a header into the ground and narrowly wide. 

Then in the 59th minute, off Rhys Knight’s defence splitting pass, Costello raced through on goal. But Lee Axworthy made the last gasp save. 

From the corner that followed, the ball came back to Costello. His cross-shot clipped the bar and went over. 

Wanderers did deservedly draw level in the 69th minute. 

Costello swung over a free right-footed off the left flank. Fagbemi met it with a glancing header that took a nick off an opponent and went past Axworthy. 

Both teams had chances before the final whistle to win the tie. 

Athlone substitute Declan McDaid drilled low from 20-yards but just off target on 72. 

Seconds later at the other end, Seagulls sub Destiny Avenbuan headed straight at Axworthy off Costello’s corner. 

With four minutes to go, Villalobos’ 20-yard snap-shot was smothered by the home netminder. 

Bray’s final match in the group is a scheduled home tie with Inchicore Athletic. 

 

Athlone Town: Lee Axworthy; John Ross Wilson, German Fuentes Rodriguez, Noe Baba, Brian Torre (Dylan Hand 90 + 4); Matthew Leal, Billy Gilmore (Adam Lennon half time); Kailin Barlow, Kyle Robinson (Agbo Babatunde half time), Adam Wixted (Declan McDaid 64); Dean Williams (Bastien Hery 64). 

 

Subs not used: Aaron Connolly, Andrew Stuart Trainor. 

 

Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness; Alain Kizenga, Harvey Warren, Benjamin Fagbemi (Caleb O'Neill 76), Dylan Barnett (Destiny Avenbuan 66); Jordan Tallon (Joshua Kerr 66); Calum Costello, Rhys Knight, Richard Ferizaj (Max McLaughlin 87), Phillip Cooney; Leon Keogh (Benjamin Villalobos 76). 

 

Subs not used: Ethan Cheese, Edvinas Jakas. 

 

Booked: Fagbemi 73. 

 

Referee: Declan Toland (Midlands).