Bray Wanderers 3 Sligo Rovers 0
Bray did an EA SPORTS MU15 League of Ireland Tier 2 North double on Saturday over Sligo.
But were made to work hard for all three points at the Carlisle Grounds in a physical but fair encounter.
The Seagulls had won the reverse fixture 3-1 at the Showgrounds (Astro Turf).
After the heavy rain that fell before kick-off, sunshine greeted the start of the contest.
Wanderers made the most of the bright opening to go ahead in the 11th minute.
Home goalkeeper Elliot Homan sprayed a superb ball wide left for Conor Cunningham to run onto as Rovers tried to play-offside.
The winger beat a defender with a header on the run then angled a 12-yard drive to the bottom far corner of the net.
Nine minutes later, away custodian Patrick Looby brought off a great save to deny Kyle Jackson at the expense of a corner.
Looby then thwarted Olivier Gnutek within seconds of the restart of the second period.
Sean Goggin next lifted over the ball over the bar close in on 49 after Lewis Brady’s fine slide rule pass.
In the 54th minute, Gnutek slipped in Cunningham, But again Looby made a fine reaction stop.
The pressure paid off four minutes later.
Cunningham drove a cross over from the left. Substitute Zac Lawlor controlled then flicked the ball up to hit a 12-yard sliding volley to the net.
Another sub Nathan Robert Byrne went close on 73 with a low drove that flashed just past the post.
With Sligo pressing late on, Wanderers caught them with an 89th minute counter attack.
With a corner cleared, Roberts Byrne held off an opponent and burst clear along the right flank. He then centre dlow for the onrushing Gnutek to lash to the net with thumping 14-yard finish.
Bray Wanderers: Elliot Homan; Senan Dutton, Jamie Lynch, Ryan Higgins, Kristofer Marku; Lewis Brady, Alex Mernagh; Kyle Jackson, Sean Goggin, Conor Cunningham; Olivier Gnutek.
Subs: Daniel Howard, Nathan Roberts Byrne, Zac Lawlor, Shane O'Dowd.
Sligo Rovers: Patrick Looby; Ronan Byrne, Scott Williams, Pol Arnold; Glen Carty; Sean Monaghan, Robert Ruane, Ben Kearney, Shane Filan; Oscar Fahey, Eoin Doherty.
Subs: Shane Canning, Ciaran Gunning, Alfie Monaghan, Senan Hopkins, Donagh Conlon-Oates, Adam Reynolds, Ryan Maloney
Referee: Peter Moynihan.
Pictures: Ethan Finnerty.
* Elsewhere in the section, Dundalk beat Derry City 1-0 at Oriel Park. Longford Town and Drogheda United played out a 2-2 draw at Bishopsgate.
* Bray return to the Carlisle Ground son Saturday October 4 to face Longford Town.
Share this post: