Bray Wanderers 4 Klub Kildare 1
Bray opened their Eddie Wallace Cup campaign with a victory over Klub Kildare.
Under sweltering conditions, the young Seagulls claimed the LOI EA Sports MU14 Cup Group 3 points at the Carlisle Grounds on Sunday afternoon courtesy of a 4-1 home triumph.
The visitors travelled to County Wicklow with the bare 11 players.
To their credit, they gave their all and never gave up.
But in truth, had Wanderers taken their chances – especially in the opening 30-minute period, the score-line could have much different.
The only surprise is that the advantage was only 1-0 after the half hour.
The score came in the 20th minute. Luke Greene was possession off a goal-kick. Alex Fox fed Liam Richardson who created space before finding the far top right corner of the net with a superb 22-yard shot.
The rest of the goal action was condensed into the final third period as the Green and White’s made it 2-0 in the 67th minute.
Alex O'Connor played a short corner with Richardson and took a return pass before crossing into in the six-yard box, with substitute Bobby Haybyrne, converting close in.
But ‘Kildare pulled one back just a minute later.
Aleksander Kurek’s free into the penalty area dropped and bounced around before Daniel Harrison fired in the loose ball from eight-yards.
However, Bray restored their two-goal cushion in the 77th minute.
A corner was cleared to the edge of the box. The waiting Nathan Roberts Byrne hooked a 20-yard volley high with the ball dropping under the crossbar to the net.
The win was sealed in the 81st minute.
Defender Dylan McGuinness stroke forward from his own half before hitting a swerving 30-yard shot that evaded Adam Whelan’s attempted save.
Bray Wanderers: Shane O'Dowd; Senan Dutton, Alex O'Connor, Dylan McGuinness, Christian Scanlan; Luke Greene, Fionnan O'Snodaigh; Joseph Mangan, Liam Richardson, Alex Fox; Nathan Roberts Byrne.
Subs: Andrew McCarron, Bobby Haybyrne, Charlie McMorrow, Sean Goggin, James Daly.
Klub Kildare: Adam Whelan; Logan Walsh McCabe, Matthew Cox, Daniel Harrison, Noah Meila; Aleksander Kurek, Ryan Jamison; Joshua Sheridan, Giancarlo Di Mauro, Nichita Salari; Aaron Mooney.
Referee: Michael Kennedy (Wicklow ISRS).
Pictures: Ethan Finnerty.
* Elsewhere in the section, St. Patrick’s Athletic defeated Cobh Ramblers 4-1 at the Stephen Ireland Astro.
* Bray are away to Cobh Ramblers on Sunday July 6 next at the Stephen Ireland Astro in gthe Eddie Wallace Cup.
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