Mayo FC 3 Bray Wanderers 3
Bray grabbed an injury time equaliser to earn a EA SPORTS U15 League of Ireland Tier 2 North point.
But it was a case of what might have been at Umbro Milebush Park on Saturday afternoon.
When the teams met last June at the Carlisle Grounds, Wanderers recorded a 5-0 success.
The Wicklow side spurned a series of first half chances this time round.
After a minutes silence was held for former Finn Harps manager Ollie Horgan, the away team went ahead in the tenth minute.
After good play between Jamie Lynch and Conor Cunningham, Zac Lawlor was put through to finish well from the right side of the box.
Just four minutes later, the Seagulls produced a carbon copy to make it 2-0 as Danny Howard was played in to find the net.
Mayo pulled one back in the 35th minute, albeit with a hint on controversy.
It a counter-attack, goalkeeper Shane O’Dowd tried smother the ball. But appeared to be fouled by the challenge Brady Guilfoyle.
Play was allowed continue with the striker slotting in. O’Dowd (with a broken nose and damaged septum) had to be substituted.
The Westerners made it 2-2 in the 54th minute as Sean Corcoran rose highest at the near post to head in.
After that, Bray were again guilty of passing up some gilt edged chances. And were made to pay on 80 minutes.
From a break off a Wanderers attack, Cillian Keating scored from the edge of the box.
With the contest three minutes into stoppage time, the home defence was caught out by a long clearance. Substitute Olivier Gnutek raced clear to make it 3-3.
Bray Wanderers: Shane O'Dowd; Jamie Lynch, Ryan Higgins, Kristofer Marku, Rhys Behan; Lewis Brady, Alex Mernagh; Daniel Howard, Conor Cunningham, Kyle Jackson; Zac Lawlor.
Subs: Christian Scanlan, Nathan Roberts Byrne, Olivier Gnutek, Charlie McMorrow, Elliot Homan.
* Elsewhere in the section, Drogheda United defeated Sligo Rovers 1-0 at the Showgrounds (Astro Turf). Derry City overcame Longford Town 4-1 at the Shared Village. Dundalk beat Finn Harps 2-1 at Oriel Park.
All the results mean Derry set the pace on 21 points. Drogheda are second on 15 points, with Dundalk on 12 points. Finn Harps have 12 points with both Bray and Sligo on ten points.
* Bray return to the Carlisle Grounds on Saturday September 6 to host Dundalk.
Share this post: