Bray Wanderers 2 Finn Harps 0
Two late goals saw Bray inflict a first EA SPORTS U20 League of Ireland Tier 2 North loss upon Finn Harps.
And ended Wanderers’ three game losing streak in all competitions in the process.
Cristiano Bramley broke the deadlock on Saturday afternoon at the Carlisle Grounds on the hour before he turned provider to set up Philip Cooney with seven minutes to go.
The Donegal side came to Wicklow undefeated in the section, having earned ten points from their first four fixtures.
They went close to a second minute lead when Kyle Martin shot against the post.
The visitors had big appeals in the sixth minute.
Home goalkeeper Sam Baker picked up a yellow card for hand ball– with Harps calling for a red – when Conor Gibson broke through.
From the 22-yard Gibson free that followed, Balker pushed the ball around his post.
But Bray finished the period strongly.
On 31, after Philip Cooney and Bramley combined wide left, Max McLaughlin, saw his close range downward header saved on the line by away netminder Oisin Cooney.
Then in the 39th minute, Flynn Ryan’s cross saw the unmarked Destiny Avenbuan head just wide from six-yards.
Amid the sunshine and blustery conditions, the Seagulls hit the front in the 59th minute.
Baker's short goal-kick found defender Caleb O'Neill who picked out Avenbuan. The left-back sprinted forward and played a superb through ball down the left channel for Bramley to chase. His pace took him clear of the last defender before slotting in low from 12-yards with a precise side-footed finish on the run.
Bramley then set up Irish schools international Ethan Cheese on 66. But Oisin Cooney made the block.
Three minutes later, Cheese’s run and clever pass off the left set Bramley free in the box. His effort came back off the far right post and into Oisin Cooney’s grateful arms.
Wanderers continued to create. Skipper Joshua Kerr released Philip Cooney off the left wing on 73. But Oisin Cooney blocked at his near post.
The Green and White’s crucial second score finally arrived in the 83rd minute.
Baker passed to O'Neill who played a long ball over the top down the left side for Bramley to break.
He turned inside an opponent in the box, and rolled a pass for Philip Cooney to find the net with a low eight-yard finish.
Bray Wanderers: Sam Baker; Jack Lawless, Jack Nolan, Caleb O'Neill, Destiny Avenbuan; Joshua Kerr, Flynn Ryan; Ethan Cheese, Max McLaughlin, Phillip Cooney; Cristiano Bramley.
Subs: Conor Lougheed, Darragh Butler, Isaac Millington, Ilya Bednakovs, Abdurahman Bouderbala, Luke Smith, Bradley Byrne, Dylan Ryan, Alex Forde.
Finn Harps: Oisin Cooney; Dylan McAteer, Declan Patton, Troy Preston, Eamonn MacBride; Tiarnan Callaghan McElwaine, Conor McGranaghan; Jacek Glapa, Adam McDaid, Conor Gibson; Kyle Martin.
Subs: Guilherme Tavares De Morais, Leighton Green, Vladyslav Onyshchenk.
Referee: Ruben Collins. Assistants: Pierce McKittrick, Mark McGarr.
* Elsewhere in the section, Drogheda United defeated Dundalk 3-0 at the Drogheda Institute of Further Education. Athlone Town overcame Longford Tonw 3-1 at Bishopsgate.
All the results mean Drogheda are the new leaders on 13 points from five games. Dundalk (six matches) and Finn Harps (five games) are on ten points with Bray in fourth on nine points from five matches.
* Bray are scheduled to travel to Bishopsgate on Saturday August 16 to take on Longford Town.
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