Bray Wanderers 2 Finn Harps 1
After five straight defeats in all competitions, Bray got back to winning EA SPORTS MU17 League of Ireland Tier 2 North ways on Sunday.
A goal in each period saw the Green and White’s battle to all three points on the grass pitch at new Berryfield Park in Enniskerry.
Rain, wind and blistering sunshine greeted the players throughout the fixture as the Wicklow side overcame second placed Finn Harps.
It took a brilliant point blank reaction save by home goalkeeper Alex Forde to deny Leighton Green who’d got on the end of a tenth minute Eamonn MacBride free-kick.
The hosts made the most of the vital save four minutes later.
After Jack Lawless' clearance from the right back area nera his own corner flag, Flynn Ryan threaded a pass along the right channel on halfway for Cristiano Bramley to chase down. He played a low centre across to pick out Romeo Fomenky. The attacker took a touch before slotting in low from 12-yards.
Stand-in captain Bailey Shelley led by example in the Wanderers’ defence. He went close at the other end with a 55th minute free-kick that away custodianRyan McConnell superbly tipped over.
But just 60 seconds later, it was 2-0.
From Luke Burke's throw infield off the left wing, the ball came to Ryan. He slipped a stunning through ball to put Billy Fenney in behind the away rearguard off the right flank, and scored with a low right-footed placed finish.
Moments later, Forde’s quick catch and long release set Bramley through. But from the attempted lob, McConnell parried then gathered the rebound.
The Donegal outfit pulled one back in the first minute of stoppage time.
Substitute Sean Dolan’s low drive was parried by Forde. Oisin Ebbs followed up to tap in from close range.
Bray Wanderers: Alex Forde; Jack Lawless, Adeyemi Raphael Odogiyan, Bailey Shelley, Luke Burke; Leon Creighton, Aaron Murphy; Billy Feeney, Flynn Ryan, Romeo Fomenky; Cristiano Bramley.
Subs: Jamie Lynch, Conor Cunningham, Karl Ralph, Lewis Brady, Albie Tormey, Jamie Dalton.
Finn Harps: Ryan McConnell; Rowan McGroarty, Declan Patton, Peter Sweeney, Diarmuid Reid; Caolan McBride, Gavin Friel; Ronan Buchanan, Eamonn MacBride, Leighton Green; Oisin Ebbs.
Subs: Temple Akpo, Sean Dolan, Eanna Duddy, Noah Boyle.
Referee: Joseph Byrne. Assistants: Cillian O'Reilly, Darren O'Brien (all Wicklow ISRS).
* Elsewhere in the section, Dundalk beat Sligo Rovers 2-1 at Oriel Park.
Bray remain in sixth place in the section.
* Wanderers will renew acquaintances with Finn Harps as they are due to travel to Letterkenny Community Centre next Sunday, September 21.
Share this post: