Seven-Goal Thriller at the Bowl Sees Bray Wanderers Survive Dramatic UCD Comeback
Gareth Danaher reports from the UCD Bowl.
Bray Wanderers edged a seven-goal thriller at the UCD Bowl on Friday night, surviving a late comeback to defeat UCD AFC 4-3 in one of the games of the First Division season so far. Bray Wanderers stormed into a commanding first-half lead through a Ben McCormack double, a strike from John Bilili Sesay and another from Ifunanyachi Achara before UCD mounted a dramatic response after the break.
The visitors could hardly have asked for a better start. McCormack stunned the home side with two goals inside the opening nine minutes, punishing a sluggish UCD defence and silencing the home support early on. UCD were handed a route back into the contest when Hugh Smith converted from the penalty spot after 14 minutes, but Bray continued to carve open chances whenever they attacked.
John Bilili Sesay restored Bray’s two-goal cushion on the half-hour mark with a composed finish after another swift move through midfield. The Seagulls were rampant before the interval and added a fourth six minutes before the break when Achara finished clinically to cap a devastating first-half display. At 4-1 down at half-time, UCD looked finished.
To their credit, the Students responded with far greater urgency after the restart. Louis Dignam reduced the deficit midway through the second half, giving the hosts renewed belief as Bray began to retreat deeper. The game turned increasingly chaotic in the closing stages, with bookings flying in and tempers fraying across the pitch.
Bray’s nerves worsened when Alain Kizenga was shown a late red card, leaving the visitors to survive with ten men for the closing moments. UCD sensed an unlikely escape and piled forward relentlessly. Sean Murphy pulled another goal back deep into stoppage time to make it 4-3, but Bray held on through a frantic finale to secure a massive away victory in the promotion race.
The result keeps Bray firmly in the hunt near the top end of the First Division table, while UCD were left ruing a disastrous first half that ultimately proved too much to overcome despite their spirited late rally.
Paul Heffernan’s men have a quick turnaround as they face Finglas United on Monday, 18th May in the Semi-final of the Leinster Senior Cup. Kick off at Larney Park, Finglas is at 7pm and we hope you can make the journey to support the Seagulls.
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