U17 Match Report - Dundalk 2 Bray Wanderers 1

 

Bray slumped to a second EA SPORTS U17 League of Ireland Tier 2 North away defeat in a row as Dundalk snatched a late winner on Sunday at Oriel Park. 

With a number of players still on the injury list, the away side again relied on support from U15 players with Conor Cunningham, Kyle Jackson, Jamie Lynch, and Danny Howard all featuring amongst the substitutes. 

In an evenly contested first half, Wanderers fell behind in the 26th minute. 

Jack Martin won the ball on the edge of the visitors box and finished calmly from just inside the area. 

But the Green and White’s equaliser ten minutes minutes into the second period.  

Flynn Ryan, starting his second game in Oriel Park this weekend having featured on Saturday for the U20's at the same venue, played a deep cross to the back post. He picked out Albie Tormey who looped a header expertly into the far corner of the net. 

Both teams had chances to win the match after that. But the deciding goal went the Lilywhite’s way in the 80th minute. 

Dundalk substitute Patrick Ibikunle won the ball on the half way line, and sprinted through, finishing well to give the home side the victory and all three points. 

 

Bray Wanderers: Alex Forde; Jack Lawless, Max Free, Adeyemi Raphael Odogiyan, Bailey Shelley; Albie Tormey, Sean Howard; Luke Burke, Flynn Ryan, Sean Hennelly; Cristiano Bramley. 

 

Subs: Conor Cunningham, Jamie Lynch, Daniel Howard, Kyle Jackson, Billy Feeney, Jamie Dalton. 

 

* Elsewhere in the section, Sligo Rovers beat Derry City 2-1 at the Showgrounds. Drogheda United and Finn Harps played out a 2-2 draw at the MDL grounds while Longford Town overcame Mayo FC 5-1 at Umbro Milebush Park. 

All the results - with all clubs having played four times - mean Drogheda lead the way on 10 points. Finn Harps are second on 8 points. Longford and Dundalk are on seven points with Bray and Sligo on six points. 

 

* Bray are set to be away to Wexford FC at Ferrycarrig Park on Sunday July 27 next in the Quarter Finals of the EA SPORTS League of Ireland Mark Farren Cup.