Bray Wanderers 6 Longford Town 1
A sensational first half display saw Bray power to a brilliant EA SPORTS MU20 League of Ireland Tier 2 North victory.
That was even after falling behind at a rain drenched Carlisle Grounds to Longford on Saturday.
Five goals between the first half midway point and the half time whistle saw Wanderers avenge the 2-1 away loss against the same opposition at Bishopsgate back in August.
The away side hit the front after 17 minutes. From Rafael Shakhnazaryan’s cross near the right corner flag, Mantas Stoskus’ acrobatic volley deflected off Boris Onyumbe to the net.
But from that point on, the Green and White’s blew away their opponents.
Just like the rain that fell – which required the floodlights to be turned on – the hosts were relentless.
Parity was restored in the 20th minute.
Josh Kerr slipped in Max McLaughlin off the right byline. His pull back saw Cristiano Bramley’s close range effort deflected in at the near post.
Bramley turned provider in the 29th minute. He picked out Leon Keoigh. With several passing options open to him, the striker arrowed a driven low 25-yard shot that found the bottom corner of the left hand net.
It became 3-1 four minutes later. Kerr found Bramley wide left. He passed infield to Flynn Ryan. Just hours after his first-team debut, the teenager lashed a stunning shot in from 20-yards off the left upright.
A fourth goal arrived in the 39th minute. Bramley’s run and shot was kept out by Harry Halwax. The unmarked McLaughlin was first to the rebound, and converted cooly close in.
Then in first half stoppage time, Philip Cooney delivered a cross by the left corner flag. Halwax brought off a great save to deny Keogh’s header.
However, the ball went lose to McLaughlin. He teed up Keogh who expertly finished low first time right footed from eight-yards.
The only score of the second period arrived in the 58th minute.
Kerr’s cracking measured ball over the top saw Bramley burst clear off the left wing. He then side footed past sub keeper Ellis Kirby from ten-yards.
Bray Wanderers: Edvinas Jakas; Jack Lawless, Darragh Butler, Caleb O'Neill, Phillip Cooney; Josh Kerr, Flynn Ryan; Ethan Cheese, Max Mc Laughlin, Cristiano Bramley; Leon Keogh.
Subs: Leon Creighton, Conor Lougheed, Destiny Avenbuan, Luke Smith, Isaac Millington, Abdurahman Bouderbala, Dylan Ryan, Jamie Dalton.
Longford Town: Harry Halwax; Troy O'Dowd, Solomon Eduard, James McHugh, Dylan Frawley; David Owusu, Jack Curry; Aaron Kelly, Rafael Shakhnazaryan, Mantas Stoskus; Boris Onyumbe.
Subs: Dominik Grzegorski, Rafel Egbulefu, Dylan Delaney, Ellis Kirby.
Referee: Paul Farrell. Assistants: Ryan Flood, Sean Finn.
Pictures: Ethan Finnerty.
* Elsewhere in the section, leaders Drogheda United defeated Finn Harps 4-0 at the MDL Grounds.
It finished scoreless at the Athlone Town Stadium between Athlone Town and Dundalk.
Drogheda have won the group on 31 points from 11 games.
Bray are now second on 19. Dundalk have 17 with Finn Harps on 16 (all played 11 times).
* Bray return to the Carlisle Ground son Saturday October 4 to host Derry City.
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