U20 Match Report - Bray Wanderers 1 Shamrock Rovers 0

 

Bray took a big step towards possibly reaching the elite knock-out stages of the EA SPORTS MU20 LOI by doing a Group A double over Shamrock Rovers. 

With Wanderers having won the reverse fixture 3-2 at Roadstone last March, Ethan Cheese’s second half free-kick proved to be the difference between the clubs on Saturday at the Carlisle Grounds. 

The first half was a tight affair, with very little of clear-cut chances. 

Inside the opening minute, Seasiders striker Leon Keogh shot low but straight at Todd Bazunu. 

At the other end in the third minute, Lenix Lynch brought a stunning push around the post by the diving Edvinas Jakas. 

Inside the opening 90 seconds of the second period, Jamie Ryan’s free-kick saw Bazunu make a fine stop. 

But the Seagulls went ahead in the 53rd minute. 

Off the right wing, Cheese delivered a curling free left-footed. The ball dropped inside the six-yard area and bounced up past Bazunu’s grasp. 

Three minutes left, wide left, Philip Cooney linked well with Max McLaughlin. But fired high off target close in. 

The chances kept coming for the Wicklow outfit. 

In a sweeping team move in the 73rd minute, McLaughlin and Cooney were involved before Bazunu denied Cheese. 

Then in the 75th minute, the Rovers keeper dived to his right to keep out Keogh’s free-kick. 

The Dubliner’s rallied late on. But the impressive Jakas recorded the clean sheet against his former club with a series of stops. 

The custodian got down well in the 86th minute at the feet of substitute Charles Akimrintoyo to flick the ball away in the box in a one-on-one situation. 

Then in the 88th minute, Jakas got a vital touch to divert Ajibola Oluwabiyi’s effort onto the foot of the post. Somehow, the spin of the ball then took it up and over the bar - onto the roof netting. 

The game was in the fifth minute of time added on when Akimrintoyo got free to the right endline. His cutback found fellow reserve Goodness Ogbonna. But from the low drive 15-yards out, Jakas blocked with his legs. 

 

Bray Wanderers: Edvinas Jakas; Alain Kizenga, Benjamin Fagbemi, Caleb O'Neill, Destiny Avenbuan; Jamie Ryan, Joshua Kerr; Phillip Cooney, Max Mc Laughlin, Ethan Cheese; Leon Keogh. 

 

Subs: Jack Nolan, Isaac Millington, Luke Nolan, Luke Smith, Ilya Bednakovs, Bradley Byrne, Dylan Ryan, Sam Baker. 

 

Shamrock Rovers: Todd Bazunu; Kian Dignam, Ronan Dawson, Danny Burke; Mohammad Oladiti, Harry Murray; Sean Robertson, Richard Vodo, Lenix Lynch, Maxim Kovalevskis; Eric Koufie. 

 

Subs: Callum Doyle-Travers, Evan Mearns, Adam Byrne, Goodness Ogbonna, Charles Akimrintoyo, Sean McDonald, Ajibola Oluwabiyi, Alex Noonan. 

 

Referee: Umre Akkilic. Assistants: Jamie Purcell, Darren O'Brien. 

 

* Elsewhere in the section on Saturday, leaders Bohemians defeated Klub Kildare 2-0 at FBD Hotels and Resorts Park. 

UCD are due to host Wexford FC at Larkview FC on Monday May 5. 

 

* The two results means Bohs top the table on 21 points with one match remaining. They are due to entertain UCD at the Oscar Traynor Centre on Saturday May 10 next. That same day, Bray complete their schedule away to Wexford at Ferrycarrig Park. 

Wanderers are currently in second on 16 points, with UCD third on 15 points (with a game in hand). 

Wexford are still in the equation, in fourth on 11 points.