Mayo FC 3 Bray Wanderers 3
Bray grabbed an injury time equaliser to claim an EA SPORTS MU17 League of Ireland Tier 2 North point.
After taking a first half lead against Mayo on Sunday afternoon, the visitors trailed 2-1 then 3-2 in the second period before making it 3-3 in the 96th minute at Manulla Football Club.
When the teams met last June at the Carlisle Grounds, the Wicklow side romped to a 10-0 victory.
But with the players pathway seeing members of the squad move to the U20 panel and the first-team, it was a much-changed line-up that travelled out West.
It was an away squad consisting of nine players who were involved in their second match of the weekend (both for the U20’s and U15’s).
With Ryan Owens and Daniel Oluwadara Olusola also continuing their return from long term injuries, it was always going to be a difficult game.
The away team struggled to get their passing game going in the opening period, not helped by the condition of the pitch. Playing in the third strip of Sky blue, they spurned a number of chances with the strike duo of Romeo Fomenky and Daniel Oluwadara Olusola going close.
Midfielder Albie Tormey Murphy eventually made the breakthrough just before the 30 minute mark, when his long range strike squirmed under home goalkeeper Jack Dolan.
The home club came out the better side in the second half, scoring two quick-fire goals through John Macklin (48) and Jamal Sow (58)
But Wanderers were level at 2-2 by the hour as Fomenky equalised after latching onto a through ball.
Mayo went in front again in the 80th minute as they counter-attacked off an away corner. A long ball sent Rene Vestenicky in on goal, to slot it past the sub custodian Elliot Homan.
The hosts then defended manfully in the closing stages. But Fomenky snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat with literally the last kick of the game.
The result leaves Wanderers in sixth place in the group, three points behind Sligo Rovers in fifth spot.
Bray Wanderers: Alex Forde; Jamie Lynch, Max Free, Adeyemi Raphael Odogiyan, Luke Burke; Aaron Murphy, Albie Tormey-Murphy; Daniel Oluwadara Olusola, Kyle Jackson, Olivier Gnutek; Romeo Fomenky.
Subs: Danny Howard, Alex Mernagh, Zac Lawlor, Ryan Owens, Bailey Shelley, Elliot Homan.
Pictures: Ethan Finnerty.
* Bray play their final game in the EA SPORTS League of Ireland Tier 2 North section on Sunday October 19 when they take on Derry City at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
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