U17 Mark Farren Cup Match Report - Bray Wanderers 2 Drogheda United 1

 

At the third time of asking this season, Bray got the better of Drogheda. 

And advanced to the last 16 of the U17 EA Sports LOI Mark Farren Cup in the process. 

Amid sunshine and rain showers, goals in each period by midfielder Eric Schütte and substitute Cristiano Bramley set up the first round victory on Sunday afternoon at Ballycorus. 

In the two LOI Group A previous meetings, United won 4-2 last March at the MDL Grounds. In the reverse fixture at Ballycorus last May, it ended in a 1-1 draw. 

This time, the Seagulls hit the front in the 11th minute. 

Bradley Byrne whipped in a left wing cross which was headed clear by a visiting defender. But Schütte skipped past a tackle by two opponents on the left of the penalty area before fizzing a stunning left footed drive to the far right corner of the net. 

The away side responded in the 31st minute, as Matthew McCloskey flashed a low effort across the face of goal. 

Then in the 42nd minute, McCloskey pulled a low ball back from the right endline. But close in, Cian O'Leary scuffed wide. 

McCloskey had a 55th minute effort ruled out for offside before Wanderers defender Ronan Dawson volleyed over from six yards in the 76th minute after a corner dropped to him. 

The Green and White’s doubled their lead in the 78th minute. 

Debut striker Isaac Millington chased a through ball down the right channel. The ball broke with Ethan Cheese diverting it in-field. Bramley gathered, evaded a challenge, and swerved around United goalkeeper Brandon Gough-Smith before rolling into an empty net from 15-yards. 

The Louth club pulled one back five minutes in stoppage time. 

But it was no more than a consolation as Andrew Olajide’s right wing free kick was glanced in by Cian Wilson at the near post. 

The match also saw Wanderers' U15 player Harry Grainger make his debut at 17 level. 

 

Bray Wanderers: Alex Forde, Conor Lougheed, Ronan Dawson, Luke Smith, Ryan Owens; Aidan Kane, Eric Schütte; Bradley Byrne, Ethan Cheese, Kian Dowling; Isaac Millington. 

 

Subs: Max Free, Jack Nolan, Cristiano Bramley, Jack Lawless, Harry Grainger, Karl Ralph, Evan Lynch, David Winkler. 

 

Drogheda United: Brandon Gough-Smith; Dylan Murphy, Oliver Radecki, Ethan Maher, Ben Walsh; David Ndala, Ultan McLaughlin; Matthew McCloskey, Sean McGrath, Cian O'Leary; Cian Wilson. 

 

Subs: Giacomo Acinelli, Leon Hudson, Tadhg McEvoy, Jamie O'Brien, Andrew Olajide, Joey Hegarty, Dylan Sheridan. 

 

Referee: Pierce McKittrick. Assistants: Umre Akkilic, Ryan Flood. 

 

Pictures: Ethan Finnerty. 

 

* Bray begin their Tier 2 (South) campaign on Sunday (July 14) next by hosting Waterford FC at Ballycorus.