Bray Wanderers 2 Longford Town 1
Bray produced a come from behind victory to do a EA SPORTS MU15 League of Ireland Tier 2 North double over Longford.
Against the run of play, the Seasiders went 1-0 down against the Midlanders early in the opening period on Saturday afternoon at a windy Carlisle Grounds.
The Green and White’s equalised just after the half bour before claiming the winner with 17 minutes to go.
Wanderers had won convincingly 6-1 in the reverse fixture last August at Bishopsgate.
After spurning several early chances, with Danny Howard and Senan Dutton both going close, the hosts were punished in the 16th minute.
A cross-field ball right to left picked out Aistis Vaitkevicius. He then turned before firing a rising 15-yard effort to the roof of the net.
Bray were back on level terms by the 33rd minute.
Olivier Gnutek curled over a corner from the right wing left-footed. At the back post, Jamie Lunch got free in the area to power in a close range header.
Although the Wicklow side had the better of the second half contest, the varistors’ Elijah Ishola (53) and then Vaitkevicius (63) went close with shots
Conor Cunningham had flashed just wide of the far right hand upright on 55
The home team then made five substitution on the hour. Two of them combined to create what proved to be the winner in the 73rd minute.
Rhys Behan won a tackle in his own half. He then passed infield to Kyle Jackson who set Cunningham free of the left flank with a clever flick.
His pace saw him touch past a defender before angling a placed right-footed effort from eight yards to the far right corner of the net.
With Wanderers pressing late on, away reserve keeper James Michael Jennings thwarted Jackson twice in the 76th and 86th minutes by diving at the striker’s feet when in on goal.
Bray Wanderers: Shane O'Dowd; Senan Dutton, Jamie Lynch, Ryan Higgins, Kristofer Marku; Zac Lawlor, Lewis Brady, Daniel Howard, Conor Cunningham; Nathan Roberts Byrne, Olivier Gnutek.
Subs: Rhys Behan, Cillian Walsh, Alex Mernagh, Sean Goggin, Kyle Jackson, Elliot Homan.
Longford Town: Cormac Regan; Kamdi Aguneche, Dovas Virketis, Zach Gilbride, Kacper Slezak; Scott Cogan, Senan Hoey, Jonah Hassett,
Aistis Vaitkevicius; Praise Olajide, Anthony Dara Abasi Edet.
Subs: Elijah Ishola, Ryan Coughlan, James Michael Jennings.
Referee: Wayne McDonnell.
Pictures: Ethan Finnerty.
* Elsewhere in the section, leader Derry City defeated Sligo Rovers 5-0 at Leckview Park Astro. Dundalk beat Mayo FC 4-0 at Umbro Milebush Park. Finn Harps overcame Drogheda United 3-0 at Drogheda Institute of Further Education.
* Bray complete their programme of EA SPORTS MU15 League of Ireland Tier 2 North games on Saturday October 11 at home to Derry City at the Carlisle Grounds.
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