Bray Wanderers 1 Waterford FC 2 
 
A series of missed chances saw Bray suffer a defeat in their opening U17 EA Sports LOI Tier Two (South) outing. 
The Green and White’s failed to take number of scoring opportunities before falling behind to Waterford on Saturday afternoon at Ballycorus. 
Then before equalising against the Blue’s, Wanderers had more chances. They had further openings after conceding again. But could not make the most of them. 
Billy O’Neill shot narrowly from 20-yards on 11 while seven minutes later, Ronan Dawson headed just wide off Ethan Cheese’s 18th minute corner. 
The away side responded moments later as it took a brilliant double save within seconds by home goalkeeper Alex Forde to thwart Mason Murphy and then Aaron Cass. 
How quickly a game can change was shown by events between the 34th and 36.th minutes. 
The unlucky O’Neill saw the ball bobble with just away custodian Igor Bacela to beat. But his low effort rolled wide. 
At the other end soon after, the visitors scored. From a corner, Matt Barrett netted with a low close range finish after a goalmouth scramble. 
Three minutes later, Eric Schütte’s free kick went over the bar. 
Bray began the second period well. 
On 50, Kian Dowling’s cross was miss-kicked by a Waterford defender. O’Neill reacted to hit a spectacular bicycle kick close in which Bacela somehow kept out. 
But the Wicklow outfit drew level in the 53rd minute. Dowling played a corner short to Cheese. 
From the right, his cross went deep. O’Neill’ header was parried by Bacela. But Dawson nodded in from three-yards. 
Waterford went back in front in the 69th minute. 
A raking cross-field pass found sub Shane O'Sullivan wide left. His low centre across goal was converted by a sliding Fidel Pululu at the back stick. 
Bray hit back with O’Neill’s 25-yard free going just over on 77. 
Then in the 89th minute, Schütte released sub Sean Hennelly. His low delivery was met by fellow reserve Isaac Millington. But his close range touch flashed just wide. 
 
Bray Wanderers: Alex Forde; Conor Lougheed, Ronan Dawson, Luke Smith, Max Free; Aidan Kane, Eric Schütte; Kian Dowling, Ethan Cheese, Bradley Byrne; Billy O'Neill. 
 
Subs: Jack Lawless, Isaac Millington, Cristiano Bramley, Sean Hennelly, Jack Ellis, David Winkler. 
 
Waterford FC: Igor Bacela; Alan Zborowski, Matt Barrett, Noah O'Brien; Gavin Mitchell, Nathan Brett, Adam Dobbyn, Aaron Cass; Mason Murphy; Fidel Pululu, Jack Garrett. 
 
Subs: Shane O'Sullivan, Fortune Daniels, Ryan Murphy, Romeo Lapite, Jay Brophy, Jan Wozniak, Adam Hearne. 
 
Referee: Sam Ralph. Assistants: Daniel Cleary, Mark McGrath. 
 
Pictures: Ethan Finnerty. 
 
* Elsewhere in the section, Shamrock Rovers beat Cobh Ramblers 6-0 at Roadstone. Galway United got the better of Limerick FC 6-3 at Charleville AFC while Kerry FC and CK United played out a 1-1 draw at Mounthawk Park. 
 
* Bray are away to CK United next Sunday (July 21) at Killeshin AFC. 
 
Tagged as: Men's Under 17s
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