U20 Match Report - Bray Wanderers 1 Klub Kildare 1

Posted on 22nd September 2024 at 21:00

Bray Wanderers 1 Klub Kildare 1

Bray’s U20’s came from behind to make it three LOI Academy Tier Two (South) games unbeaten.

Rhys Knight’s second half equaliser earned a point against Klub Kildare at Ballycorus on Saturday afternoon.

When the teams faced off last month at the FBD Hotels and Resorts Park, Kildare won 7-1.

But there was no repeat of that result – with the Wicklow outfit unlucky not to take all three points.

The away side needed goalkeeper Aodh Conway's tip-over save in the 20th minute from Stefan Ugbesia’s header off Daniel Sabatin’s centre to prevent falling behind.

Somewhat against the run of play, the visitors took a 29th minute.

They cleared a home corner and broke off the right channel. Chidozie Roland Uzoma rounded the advancing netminder Edvinas Jakas before slotting into the empty net from 25-yards.

The Green and White’s went close to levelling matters on the stroke of half time.

Alan Seruga’s low 25-yard free was pushed out for a corner by Conway. From the resulting flag-kick, U17 Irish striker Billy O’Neill headed narrowly wide.

The second period was less than a minute old when Kildare’s Mark Canavan got on the end of Alex Malone’s right-wing cut-back. But Jakas made a point-blank stop.

Seven minutes later at the other end, Conway thwarted O’Neill again off a bullet header from Seruga’s free.

Bray deservedly equalised in the 71st minute.

From Abdurahman Bouderbala ball wide left, Knight ghosted past a challenge before finding the far right bottom corner of the net with a 16-yard left footed finish.

Three minutes later, from Seruga’s right flank cut-back, O’Neill saw his drive deflected over.

Both clubs could have won the game in stoppage time.

From substitute Dylan Ryan’s corner, Knight’s powerful front post header was well kept out by Conway.

Then a minute later, Jakas was required to tip over the bar sub Moses Alabi’s dipping 20-yard shot.

Bray Wanderers: Edvinas Jakas; Daniel Sabatin, Sean McMahon, Abdurahman Bouderbala, Leon Ajala; Alain Kizenga; Alan Seruga, Stefan Ugbesia, Rhys Knight, Phillip Cooney; Billy O’Neill.

Subs: Kian Reddy, Daniel Chukwu, Dean Owens, Joshua Kerr, Destiny Avenbuan, Tristan Donnelly, Caleb O'Neill, Dylan Ryan, Jack Ellis.

Klub Kildare: Aodh Conway; Alex Malone, Keelan Byrne, Egor Vassenin, Jamie Byrne; Callum Crowley, Caden Walsh; Vuyolwethu Mosea, Mark Canavan, Michael Gnutek; Chidozie Roland Uzoma.

Subs: Kyle O'Connell, Moses Alabi, Kornii Zakharkiv, Sam Kelly, Stephen Odiashi, Noah Byrne, Jude Healy, Kian Brunton, Mark Butler.

Referee: Sahin Yasar. Assistants: Jack Nolan, Gary Bailey.

Pictures: Ethan Finnerty.

* Elsewhere in the section, Treaty United beat leaders Shelbourne 3-0 at University Limerick while Cobh Ramblers defeated Kerry FC 2-1 at St. Colman’s Park.

All the results means that Shels lead the way on 21 points .Klub Kildare are second on 17 points; Treaty United are third on 15 points with Bray fourth on 13 points.

* Bray have another home fixture on Saturday September 28 when they will entertain Cobh Ramblers at Ballycorus.