League Report: Drogheda United 0 - 2 Bray Wanderers

Bray Wanderers recorded only their second win of the season as they comfortably defeated Drogheda United 2-0 at United Park.

After a scoreless opening half, Bray struck twice in three minutes through David Scully and Shane O’Neill to end Drogheda’s undefeated start to the campaign.

David Cassidy, playing against his former club, had the first chance of the game on ten minutes as he sent a stinging effort from 25-yards narrowly wide of David Ryan’s goal.

Drogheda responded with two chances in quick succession as a free kick from Eric Foley was pushed behind by Stephen McGuinness and from the resulting corner Gavin Brennan failed to keep his header on target.

The home side remained in the ascendancy for the majority of the first half as they squandered several chances to take the lead.

On 25 minutes, Carl Walshe cut inside from the right wing but his powerful effort from the edge of the box went over the bar and then Declan O’Brien saw his shot blocked on the line with Daire Doyle firing over from the rebound.

The Seagulls almost caught United cold on the stroke of half time as a counter-attack resulted in Ishahil Akinade picking out the run of David Scully but the striker’s effort was saved by Ryan.

Bray started the second half in determined fashioned and they should have broken the deadlock on 50 minutes. Akinade outmuscled Alan McNally and the striker teed up Cassidy but the midfielder’s attempted chip was over hit.

The visitors didn’t have to wait long after to open the scoring. A corner kick from the right was dropped by Ryan in the crowded penalty area which left Scully with the simple task of hooking the ball into the empty net.

Bray stunned Drogheda three minutes later as O'Neill raced clear from the halfway line before cutting inside the recovering defender and firing into the top corner of the net from just inside the box to double their advantage.

United created nothing of note in the remainder of the game as the Seagulls missed several chances to further enhance their lead.

Akinade was denied twice late on by Ryan when put through clean on goal while midfielder Dean Zambra saw his long distance effort bounce narrowly wide of the far post.

An impressive performance from Bray sees them rise to eight in the table while Drogheda will look to keep touch with the early leaders as they travel to Cork City next Friday.

Drogheda United: David Ryan; Michael Daly, Alan McNally, Ciaran McGuigan, Shane Grimes; Carl Walshe, Eric Foley (Gavan Holohan 69), Daire Doyle (Stephen Maher 59), Gavin Brennan; Gary O’Neill (Phillip Hughes 76), Declan O’Brien.
Subs not used: Dylan Connolly, Paul Crowley, Paul Andrews, Cathal Brady.

Booked: G Brennan (73)

Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness; Niall Cooney, Dave Webster, Adam Mitchell, Robert Maloney; Dean Zambra, Graham Kelly (Gary Curran), David Cassidy, Shane O’Neill (Michael Brown 90 + 5), David Scully; Ismahil Akinade.
Subs not used: Gavin Sheridan (gk), Jamie McGlynn, Philip Nolan, Sean Hurley, Ciaran Byrne.

Booked: Zambra (43), Scully (57), Webster (62)

Referee: Paul Tuite

Attendance: 973

Man of the Match: Shane O’Neill (Bray Wanderers)