Bray Wanderers 1 Derry City 1
On the back of two previous home victories, Bray battled to a brave draw against EA SPORTS MU15 League of Ireland Tier 2 North leaders Derry.
The young Seagulls led 1-0 at the interval on Saturday afternoon at the Carlisle Grounds before City grabbed a second half equaliser.
When the teams met last June in the reverse fixture, the Candystripes won 2-1 at the Shared Village.
This time round, the Green and White’s forged a 23rd minute breakthrough.
The visitors tried to play out from the back. Zac Lawlor got a touch with Lewis Brady playing in Danny Howard off the right. His dinked cross saw Kyle Jackson steer in a close range header.
Just a minute later, Wanderers net close again. Brady crossed from the right byline with Howard guiding his header narrowly wide.
Derry upped their game after the interval and drew level in the 64th minute.
From an attack off the left wing, Jamie O’Donnell was played into the penalty area to sweep a left footed angled 15-yard shot to the net.
Wanderers had the opportunity to restore their advantage just 90 seconds later.
Substitute Nathan Roberts Byrne showed perseverance to ride past two challenges and burst into the box from a superb solo run. But his low effort was brilliantly blocked on the line by away sub netminder Jake Morgan.
No less than six players were booked for an incident in the 76th minute – three from each club.
City went close to a winner with seven minutes of normal time remaining. After a left wing run and cross by sub Jerry Coyle, O’Donnell’s turn and shot saw home reserve custodian Shane O’Dowd pull off a fine parried save.
Bray Wanderers: Elliot Homan; Cillian Walsh, Jamie Lynch, Ryan Higgins, Rhys Behan; Lewis Brady, Alex Mernagh; Zac Lawlor, Daniel Howard, Conor Cunningham; Kyle Jackson.
Subs: Kristofer Marku, Nathan Roberts Byrne, Olivier Gnutek, Senan Dutton, Sean Goggin, Shane O'Dowd.
Derry City: Cai McGlynn; Alfie Cregan, Kaiden Spence, Jay McCafferty, Daryl Meehan; Oisin O'Brien, Mark Gregg, Daithi Roddy, Steven Coyle; Michael McColgan, Jamie O’Donnell.
Subs: Aedan Smith, Oliver Harte, Riley Melly, Jerry Coyle, Jake Morgan.
Referee: Dominique Lachaussee (Wicklow ISRS)
Pictures: Ethan Finnerty.
* Elsewhere in the section, Sligo Rovers defeated Finn Harps 2-1 at the Showgrounds (Astro Turf). Dundalk beat Longford Town 2-0 at Bishopsgate. Drogheda United overcame Mayo FC 2-0 at the Drogheda Institute of Further Education.
All the results mean that Bray will finish fifth in the group.
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