Derry City 2 Bray Wanderers 3
Bray made it nine straight victories in all competitions as Philip Cooney snatched a dramatic late EA SPORTS MU20 League of Ireland Tier 2 North winner.
The winger popped up with the crucial 89th minute score on Saturday afternoon at Aileach FC in Burnfoot when put through by Irish schools international Ethan Cheese to make it 3-2.
And extended the Green and White’s record in the process to ten matches unbeaten in all competitions since last March.
Wanderers had led 1-0 early on but were pegged back to 1-1 by the break. The visitors then took the lead again in the second period only for Derry to grab a second equaliser.
The Wicklow team started the game slowly with City’ s pace up front through Yoann Prigent causing the Bray defence lots of headache.
But it was the Seasiders who broke the dead-lock in the ninth minute.
After some great work down the left hand side between Cooney and Destiny Avenbuan, the left-full delivered a ball to the back post for Leon Keogh to head to the net.
However, the hosts restored parity soon after as Jack Halvin played a through ball to Callum Downey to slot into the bottom corner.
After the turnaround, Cooney was proving to be the Wanderers’ biggest threat by making numerous runs in behind.
He got his reward in the 55th minute when he followed up a furry in the box and Cheese played the ball into Cooney’s path to make no mistake with a crisp finish.
The visitors though were got caught in possession in the 73rd minute. Prigent won the ball and split the away defence with a pace for Reece Monaghan to make it 2-2.
Bray substitute Bradley Byrne had come on midway through the second half and gave the Seagulls’ attack added impetus, creating issues for the City rearguard.
As the game ticked into the final minute of normal time, Cheese again provided the assist for Cooney as Wanderers followed up last weeks’ 1-0 home triumph over Athlone Town to register their first away success in the section.
Bray Wanderers: Edvinas Jakas; Luke Nolan, Caleb O'Neill, Luke Smith, Destiny Avenbuan; Joshua Kerr, Leon Creighton; Ethan Cheese, Max McLaughlin, Phillip Cooney; Leon Keogh.
Subs: Conor Lougheed, Abdurahman Bouderbala, Ilya Bednakovs, Bradley Byrne, Sam Baker.
Pictures: Ethan Finnerty.
* Elsewhere in the section, Finn Harps beat Longford Town 3-1 at Bishopsgate while Dundalk and Athlone Town played out a 2-2 draw at Oriel Park.
Bray and Finn Harps set the pace at the top of the table with maximum points from their first two outings.
* Bray are set to host St. Patrick’s Athletic in the last 16 of the EA SPORTS MU20 LOI Enda McGuill Cup on Saturday July 5 at the Carlisle Grounds.
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