U20 Match Report - Bray Wanderers 4 Derry City 1

 

Two goals in minute saw Bray end their EA SPORTS MU20 League of Ireland Tier 2 North campaign in style. 

Philip Cooney opened the scoring inside the first 60 seconds at the Carlisle Grounds on Saturday afternoon, before the attacker secured the three points late on as Wanderers consolidated section place in the group. 

Winger Dylan Ryan provided the assist for both scores amid the blustery and wet conditions, while also setting up Cristiano Bramley and finding the net himself. 

The Seasiders had won the reverse fixture back in June 3-2 at Aileach FC, with Cooney claiming an last minute winner. 

This time round, he needed just 51 seconds to break the deadlock. 

In a move started in their own half, the ball was worked down the left channel. Bramley’s touch saw Flynn Ryan spray the play wide right to his older brother. Dyan Ryan then crossed perfectly for Cooney to volley in from close range. 

But the Candystripes were level by the 12th minute. 

As the Green and White’s tried to play out from the back, they lost possession. On the left flank, Kyle McLaughlin played in Brendan Roe. He was blocked off by netminder Edvinas Jakas and defenders. The loose ball ran to Caolan O'Donnell who poked in from six-yards 

The Wicklow outfit then scored twice in rapid succession to go 3-1 up 

In the 16th minute, Darragh Butler passed to Destiny Avenbuan on the left wing. His cross was only half cleared. 

Skipper Joshua Kerr then switched play wide right to Dylan Ryan. His low delivery picked out Bramley who slotted in low from ten-yard first-time. 

Straight from the tip-off, Ethan Cheese won the ball. He found Bramley in the ‘D who in turn slipped in the breaking Dylan Ryan off the right inside the box to score with a placed low first-time finish. 

In a scrappy second period, not helped by the conditions, Wanderers sealed the points in the 74th minute. 

Near the left corner flag, substitute Conor Lougheed took a throw which picked out the run of Dylan Ryan. 

From the left endline, he pulled the ball back across where Cooney got ahead of a defender to clip a close range flicked finish to the net. 

 

Bray Wanderers: Edvinas Jakas; Jack Lawless, Darragh Butler, Jack Nolan, Destiny Avenbuan; Joshua Kerr; Dylan Ryan, Flynn Ryan, Ethan Cheese, Phillip Cooney; Cristiano Bramley. 

 

Subs: Conor Lougheed, Leon Creighton, Isaac Millington, Luke Smith, Abdurahman Bouderbala, Alex Forde. 

 

Derry City: Cole Smyth; Blain McDaid, Ryan Long, Euan Quigley, Alex Cullen; Finn Nolan, Callum Downey, Ciaran Mullan, Kyle McLaughlin; Brendan Roe, Caolan O'Donnell. 

 

Sub: Davin Blake. 

 

Referee: Darren Carey. 

 

Pictures: Ethan Finnerty. 

 

* Elsewhere in the section, group winners Drogheda United defeated Athlone Town 2-0 at the Drogheda Institute of Further Education. Longford Town overcame third placed Dundalk 3-2 at Longford Rugby Astro.