Match Report - UCD 0 Bray Wanderers 0

 

 

Bray climbed back up into the SSE Airtricity First Division play-offs after a hard fight draw away to UCD. 

In a match that completed the halfway point of the 2024 league season, a fifth clean sheet of the campaign saw the Seagulls leave the Bowl with a point on Friday. 

In a match that won’t live long in the memory, Wanderers were able to recall skipper Kilian Cantwell and goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness to the starting XI after injury. 

The only other change from the side who’d defeated Wexford away last week saw Kieran Cruise recalled on the left wing. 

On the bench, U17 player Alain Kizenga was amongst the substitutes. 

In a first half nearly devoid of any goal threatening action, Cristian Magerusan tried to burst into the away box in the 12th minute. But the covering Éanna Clancy averted the danger in the 'D. 

The ‘College’s only real opportunity saw McGuinness easily gather Wicklow native Hugh Parker’s shot from outside the penalty area in the 19th minute. 

There was an improvement in terms of opportunities in the second period. Nearly all of them came after the hour mark. 

The Students had perhaps the game best opening in the 66th minute. 

Off the right wing, Ciaran Behan picked out substitute Jake Doyle just outside the six-yard area. But Cantwell got a timely point-blank block. 

Bray finished strongly though in the last quarter. 

On 74, Cantwell crossed from wide right with Magerusan getting ahead of his marker. But glancing his header well wide of the target. 

In the 83rd minute, after intercepting the ball, Magerusan cut in the right flank. But his shot from outside the box went wide of the far post. 

Just before the final whistle, Groome broke clear. But he opted to try and find Magerusan out left when the unmarked Craven to his right was the better option, and the chance was lost. 

 

UCD: Kian Moore; Donal Higgins (Alex Dunne 74), Éanna Clancy, Niall Holohan, Adam Wells; Ciaran Behan, Seán Brennan, Ronan Finn (Adam Verdon 81), Mikey McCullagh (Stephen Mohan 81); Michael Raggett (Jake Doyle 61), Hugh Parker (Danú Kinsella-Bishop 74). 

 

Subs not used: Harvey O’Brien, Colin Bolton, Adam Brennan, Dara Kavanagh, 

 

Booked: Higgins 73. 

 

Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness; Max Murphy, Killian Cantwell, Paul Murphy, Zach Nolan; Darren Craven, Harry Groome, Freddie Turley, Guillermo Almirall (Conor Knight 76), Kieran Cruise (Callum Thompson 65); Cristian Magerusan. 

 

Sub not used: Jamie Duggan, Thomas Morgan, Alain Kizenga, Zayd Abada, Josh McGlone, Ben Clark. 

 

Booked: Craven 57. 

 

Referee: Alan Franklin. 

 

Pictures: Vincent Kirwan.