League Report: Bray Wanderers 1 - 1 Athlone Town
Credit:
Bray Wanderers and Athlone Town played out a 1-1 draw in the Carlisle Grounds on Friday night as a 7th minute Alan Byrne goal was dramatically cancelled out by a 92nd minute equaliser from the Seagulls' Michael Barker.
In a game that dipped in and out of being exciting, Athlone Town, who are hoping to mount an unbelievable escape from relegation, started at a lightning pace with a s strike from Alan Byrne that gave them the lead after just eight minutes. Despite being largely outplayed for most of the game, Bray came to life in the last few moments and Michael Barker scored a wonderful curling shot to steal Bray an important point.
The game started nervously but came to life in the eighth minute. A long free kick from Prendergast was headed behind for a corner. It wasn’t the best ball in from Graham Rusk but it hit the unfortunate David Scully and bounced into the net.
It became end to end after that as Bray tried to get back into the game. Dean Zambra had a close shot from the edge of the box that went wide before Eric Foley had a strike which missed the target after good work from Rusk and Dillon
Then, after twenty five minutes, Dillon had a wonderful free kick saved by Shane Redmond before Prendergast headed Dillon’s resulting corner wide. Bray then had a free kick of their own when Jake Kelly was fouled just outside the box but McGill’s attempt hit the side netting.
Athlone were playing the better football though and it showed when Dillon and Foley linked up well in midfield before Dillon played the ball in front of Rusk. Unfortunately, the Athlone striker was unable to find the target with his shot falling just wide.
Bray then nearly got back into the game when Ismahil Akinade controlled a long pass and squared the ball to Zambra. But Foley made a great covering challenge to deny the Bray midfielder a shot on goal.
Bray were gaining a foothold in the game at this point and Akinade received the ball from a long pass but couldn’t find Jake Kelly with the cut back. The ball was cleared out and it found its way to Joe Gorman, who hit a volley straight at Ryan Coulter.
Akinade was at the centre of it again when he found McGill with a pass. The midfielder then beat his marker but couldn’t find Scully with the ball across goal as Athlone got to halftime one-nil up.
At the start of the second half, Bray nearly gifted Athlone a second goal. Niall Cooney had a poor header and it fell to Philly Gorman. The Athlone striker shot at goal and Redmond pushed the ball away before Shane O’Connor had to be alert to clear the loose ball under pressure from Dillon.
But Bray came back and Foley had to be quick to get the ball away when Akinade found Scully in the box. Scully was involved again as he won a dangerous free kick on the edge of the box but it was hit against the wall by Jake Kelly.
Dillon then went on a wonderful run down the right hand side for Athlone and delivered a great cross to the back post. Rusk was there to head it in but his header hit off a Bray defender and went clear.
The game then became disputed as lots of fouls were being given away. Bray were trying to push for an equaliser through their set pieces but Athlone were defending well.
Athlone nearly secured all three points in the final few minutes of normal time. Dillon caught Bray on the counter and tried a dipping volley from thirty yards out with Redmond off his line. It beat the Bray goalkeeper but it flew past the post too.
Bray really started to attack when the referee signaled that five minutes would be added on. Substitute Philly Hughes hit a hard shot at an Athlone player before Cassidy had his shot saved by Coulter from close range.
The resulting corner was headed out but the ball made its way to Michael Barker. The right back then curled the ball home from twenty yards out to salvage a point for Bray.
Bray nearly stole the points when Akinade put a ball across the box. But Hughes couldn’t reach and the game finished as a one-all draw
Bray Wanderers: Shane Redmond; Michael Barker, Shane O’Connor, Niall Cooney, Joe Gorman; Dave Scully (Philip Hughes), Dean Zambra ©, Eric McGill, Adam Hanlon(Robert Maloney); Ismahil Akiande, Jake Kelly (David Cassidy).
Subs not used: Stephen McGuinness (gk), Graham Kelly, Ryan Coombes, Gareth McDonagh.
Booked: Scully (55), Gorman (86), Cassidy (90+3).
Athlone Town: Ryan Coulter; Dylan Hayes, Alan Byrne ©, Derek Prendergast, Sean Byrne; Eric Foley; John Mulroy (Derek Doyle), James O’Brien(Mark Hughes), Kealan Dillon, Graham Rusk(Sean Brennan); Philip Gorman.
Subs not used: Paul Skinner (gk), Ian Sweeney, Thomas Mulroney, Kevin Knight.
Booked: Foley (61), O’Brien (72).
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
Attendance: 400
Extratime Man of the Match: Eric Foley (Athlone Town) - He was the star man for Athlone, in both defence and attack, as he passed the ball well in midfield and but in two great challenges to deny Bray shots at goal.
