A 12th clean sheet in all competitions of the 2024 season helped Bray claim what could prove to be a valuable SSE Airtricity First Division point. 

That’s after a solid display saw the Seasiders leave Ferrycarrig Park on Tuesday with a hard-earned draw against Wexford. 

The Slaneysiders went into the match on the back of an eight-game unbeaten run – winning the last seven – since they succumbed to Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds back in July. 

But the width of the post and crossbar saw the Green and White’s denied victory late on. 

The result still leaves two points between the clubs with five games remaining in the normal league campaign. 

The visitors came under threat from the hosts’ barrage of long throws into the box, and a number of corners. 

But the away defensive five of Jimmy Corcoran, Max Murphy, Kilian Cantwell, Cole Omorehiomwan and Kieran Cruise dealt with everything thrown at them. 

At the other end, the Wicklow side had the better the chances overall. And were unlucky not to leave the South-East venue with all three points. 

From the side who’d gone down 1-0 away to Longford Town at Bishopsgate, there was one change with John O’Sullivan returning after Republic of Ireland U19 duty. 

On the bench, Billy O’Neill also returned after featuring for the Irish U17’s. 

There were also positional changes. Cruise was deployed at left back; Darren Craven started on the right wing with Shane Griffin playing just off Ben Feeney, while Guillermo Almirall operated on the left flank. 

Wanderers started brightly and had a seventh minute opening. Craven teed up Almirall on the left of the box. Conor Walsh parried the shot. Sean McHale then cleared the rebound ahead of Feeney. 

Just four minutes later, Max Murphy bent over a cross from the right. At the back post, Feeney headed wide. 

In the home side’s only real chance of note in the opening period, former Seagull Luca Lovic whipped in a ball from right. Aaron Dobbs powered a header goal-wards. But Corcoran made a push-out save at the near post. 

At the other end on 18, O’Sullivan’s pass found Griffin. His clever flick over a defender created the chance on the edge of the box. But the shot was straight at Walsh. 

Bray continued to press. In the 24th minute, Max Murphy threaded a low cross from the right wing. Almirall’s dummy saw Walsh get down low to parry. But the ball was cleared in front of goal before Feeney could pounce. 

In the 42nd minute, Reece Webb tried his luck from distance. Corcoran parried but recovered ahead of the challenging Dobbs. 

Just before the interval, Griffin’s superb cross-field pass switched play left to right. That allowed Max Murphy to come forward. But his 25-yard attempt dipped just over the bar. 

The second half was a much tighter affair. 

Just before the hour mark, Cian O’Malley launched a long throw from the right into the box. Close in, Thomas Oluwa lifted over the bar. 

In the 73rd minute, Harry Groome picked out O’Sullivan. But his low effort from 20-yards rolled wide. 

With 12 minutes remaining, Corcoran got down low at his right hand post to push out Lovic’s low 20-yard drive. 

But Bray finished strongly. 

In the 87th minute, Max Murphy’s cross from the right found its way to Almirall via a deflected clearance. His curling right-footed shot from outside the penalty area rattled the section of post and crossbar. 

Then in the 90th minute, space opened up for Griffin to strike low from the ‘D. But Walsh got down low to smother. 

 

Wexford FC: Conor Walsh; Reece Webb, Lewis Temple, Cian O'Malley, Sean McHale; Luka Lovic (Kaylem Harnett 81), Conor Crowley (Mikie Rowe 57); Kian Corbally, Darragh Levingston, Thomas Oluwa; Aaron Dobbs (Cian Curtis 77). 

 

Subs not used: Benjamin Lynch, Adam Lennon, Alex Moody 

 

Bray Wanderers: Jimmy Corcoran; Max Murphy, Kilian Cantwell. Cole Omorehiomwan, Kieran Cruise; Harry Groome, John O'Sullivan; Darren Craven, Shane Griffin, Guillermo Almirall; Ben Feeney (Cristian Magerusan 73). 

 

Subs not used: Callum Thompson, Jamie Duggan, Zach Nolan Zayd Abada, Conor Knight, Josh McGlone, Billy O'Neill, Stephen McGuinness. 

 

Booked: Griffin 39, Max Murphy 51, Craven 82, Magerusan 90 + 2. 

 

Referee: Lucas Keating (Cork).