U14 Eddie Wallace Cup - Bray Wanderers 4 UCD 1

 

A scintillating first third saw Bray claim all three U14 EA SPORTS Eddie Wallace Cup Group C points. 

The result at Ballycorus on Sunday afternoon also saw UCD slip to their first loss in the competition as Wanderers maintained their home 100% winning record in the section. 

There was a strong Wicklow derby presence to the fixture. The Green and White’s had no less than seven Garden County based players in their squad – compared to six reportedly in the visitors’ panel. 

The hosts hit the front in the 13th minute. 

In a sweeping move up the middle, the ball was slipped wide left to breaking Olivier Gnutek. He took a touch to go past a defender before flashing a 16-yard shot on the run to the net at the near post. 

Home centre back Rhys Behan then got back to make a vital goal-line clearance in the 14th minute to deny the visitors' Mahmoud Hamad. 

The Seasiders doubled their cushion in the 25th minute. 

Alex Mernagh surged forward. Just on the right of the box, he held off an opponent to angle a shot on the run that cannoned in off the far post. 

What followed in the third minute of stoppage time was worthy of a goal to win any football game. 

Play came infield from the left of the halfway line. Space opened up for James Loughnane to strike a wonderful 25-yard ball that swerved and dipped into the roof of the net. 

UCD pulled one back just before the end of the middle third. 

Samuel Wall’s free picked out sub JP Power along the right channel despite calls for offside. His low cross-shot was parried out by Shane O'Dowd. But Matthew Gormley followed up to bundle the ball over the line from six yards.  

Wanderers went close again on hour mark. But Gnutek slotted just wide after good work by sub Aaron Kelly-Mladin. 

However, the home team did score a fourth goal four minutes later. 

Mernagh’s reverse pass played in Kelly-Mladin off the left flank. His cross shot was palmed out by reserve custodian Conor Wheeler. 

Loughnane gathered the rebound. With two defenders covering on the line, he scooped to the roof of the net from eight yards via Wheeler’s hand. 

 

Bray Wanderers: Shane O'Dowd; Jamie Lynch, Ryan Higgins, Rhys Behan, Senan Dutton; Lewis Brady, Daniel Howard; Nathan Roberts Byrne, Alex Mernagh, Olivier Gnutek; James Loughnane. 

 

Subs: Aaron Nolan, Aaron Kelly-Mladin, Cillian Walsh. 

 

UCD: Jack Tobin; Dylan Corbett, Finn Gallanagh, Samuel Wall, Tom Murphy; Josh Finnegan; Mahmoud Hamad, Matthew Gormley, Jack Corrigan, Dylan Taylor; Brandon Griffiths. 

 

Subs: Aaron Dennehy, JP Power, Jack Brady, Sam Johns, Zac Lawlor, Ryan Hanley, Conor Wheeler. 

 

Referee: Antonio Castillo. 

 

* Elsewhere in the section, Shamrock Rovers defeated Shelbourne 3-0 at the AUL Complex. Klub Kildare overcame Wexford FC 1-0 at Ferrycarrig Park. 

All the results mean Shamrock Rovers lead the way are on nine points from three matches. Shels have seven points after four games. Bray have six points from four fixtures. UCD have four points from three outings. Klub Kildare have three points from three games. Wexford are pointless from three games. 

 

* Bray are away to Klub Kildare on Sunday July 21 at FBD Hotels and Resorts Park.