Bray Wanderers 1
Athlone Town 0
Under sweltering conditions, Bray ground out a hard-fought 1-0 success in their opening EA SPORTS MU20 League of Ireland Tier 2 North fixture.
Leon Keogh’s goal midway through the second period sealed the victory for Wanderers on Saturday afternoon at the Carlisle Grounds against a solid Athlone outfit.
In truth, the Wicklow side rode their luck at times with the Midlanders spurning several chances.
In saying that, home goalkeeper Edvinas Jakas and his defence withstood the ‘Town attack to record the clean sheet.
It took a superb goal-line clearance in the 12th minute by the covering Jack Nolan to stop Brandon Wykes’ effort crossing the line.
Eight minutes before the interval, Alex Sheerin struck a 20-yard drive from the left of the box which Jakas tipped over the bar.
Wanderers went close on the stroke of half time. Ethan Cheeswe slipped in Max McLaughlin but away custodian Andrew Stuart Trainor brought off a fine reaction save low at his left hand post.
The second period was barely 25 seconds old when the ‘Town went close to breaking the dead-lock. Bezalel Agbontaen’s right wing centre saw the inrushing Conor Bracken lift his close range effort over the bar.
Then in the 47th minute, Jakas was required to turn Alex Sheerin’s 15-yard shot on the run from the left of the box out for a corner.
The visitors almost broke the deadlock in the 65th minute. With Agbontaen the provider again off the right flank, Bracken’s header crashed back off the left hand upright.
The Green and White’s then grabbed the crucial score in the 69th minute.
In a quick counter attack, Irish schools international Cheese released McLauglin with an astute pass up the middle from the right of the halfway line.
The attacker held off a challenge and saw his attempt stopped by Trainor. But his follow was handled on the ground by a covering defender.
However, Keogh’s penalty was saved by Trainor. But the striker reacted to bundle the rebound over the line.
Bray Wanderers: Edvinas Jakas; Alain Kizenga, Luke Smith, Jack Nolan, Destiny Avenbuan; Joshua Kerr, Luke Nolan; Ethan Cheese, Max McLaughlin, Isaac Millington; Leon Keogh.
Subs: Conor Lougheed, Leon Creighton, Abdurahman Bouderbala, Ilya Bednakovs, Bradley Byrne, Dylan Ryan, Sam Baker.
Athlone Town: Andrew Stuart Trainor; Bobby Brett, Conor Quinn, Eoin Sheeran, Jayden Keaveney; Martin Scally; Brandon Wykes, William Smith Conor Bracken; Bezalel Agbontaen, Alex Sheerin.
Subs: James Murtagh Nazarii Melnyk Colm Doyle Senyo Clarke.
Referee: Umre Akkilic. Assistants: Jamie Purcell, Gary Bailey.
Pictures: Ethan Finnerty.
* Elsewhere in the section, Finn Harps defeated Dundalk 2-0 at Finn Park, while Drogheda United overcame Derry City 2-0 at Wilton Park.
* Bray are scheduled to face Derry City on Saturday June 28 at Wilton Park.
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