League Report: St Patrick's Athletic 1 - 0 Bray Wanderers

The Saints go marching on at Richmond Park, thanks to a first half goal by Greg Bolger ensured St Pats recorded a ninth straight league victory against Bray on Friday evening.

In a first half of many chances, it was the visiting side with the game’s first effort after some great work from Ryan McEvoy, but the Bray midfielder could not direct an effort worthy of troubling the Saints keeper Brendan Clarke.

Chris Forrester was next to have an effort on goal, but like McEvoy the inform Pats star failed to test Peter Cherrie, moments later a last ditch Conan Byrne tackle stopped John Sullivan from striking from the edge of the box after some brilliant play by the Seagulls skipper David Cassidy.

Aaron Greene thought he’d given the hosts the lead after a quick thinking corner from Byrne found Greene on the edge of the box but his effort sailed just over the bar.

The sides then swapped brilliant opportunities; first Adam Wixted with a cross from the right to Cassidy but he could not trouble Clarke from close range, before Byrne rifled a shot off Cherrie’s crossbar after he cut in from the right before striking from a distance of 25 yards.

Chambers was the next to test Cherrie after the ball from Shane McEleney was superbly controlled by the Saints midfielder before he turned and fired from the edge of the D but Cherrie was able to gather at the second time of asking.

Despite the Saints beginning to establish their game, Hugh Douglas – the goal scorer from Saturday’s victory over Drogheda – forced a brilliant stop from Clarke from an acute angle.

With half-time looming the Saints broke the deadlock after a ball from the left by Chambers, Forrester stepped over possession and Greg Bolger fired home from close range.

When the side emerged from the break it was the home side who made the brightest of starts, but Byrne failed to control a ball from McGrath on the edge of the Bray box. A Brennan free-kick moments later was unlucky not to find McGuinness at the far post after the defender failed to time his jump.

Despite the Saints early dominance, it was the visiting side who then grew into the game and some brilliant defending first from McEleney to deny Wixted before a last ditch tackle from McGuinness after sub Gareth McDonagh played a brilliant ball into the box for Graham Kelly.

Jamie McGrath will be kicking himself that he did not get on the scoresheet this evening first he found himself one-on-one with Cherrie but the keeper pulled off a brilliant stop, before the attacker then decided to try drag the ball back instead of shooting from inside the penalty spot.

With the Saints destined for a ninth straight league win, keeper Brendan Clarke was called into action once again after a pile driver from the Bray skipper Cassidy in injury time needed to be pushed onto the crossbar.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke, Shane McEleney Jason McGuinness, Lee Desmond, Aaron Greene, Killian Brennan, James Chambers Chris Forrester, Greg Bolger, Conan Byrne, Jamie McGrath (Morgan Langley 87)

Subs Not Used: Conor O’Malley, Sean Hoare, Paul Rooney, Jack Bayley, Sam Verdon, Marren Markey,

Yellow Cards: Brennan (67)

Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie, Michael Barker, Alan McNally, Niall Cooney, Hugh Douglas, Ryan McEvoy, John Sullivan, Graham Kelly, David Cassidy, Adam Wixted (Gareth McDonagh 60), David Scully (Chris Lyons, 73).

Subs Not Used: Sean Fogarty, Daniel O’Reilly, Adam Mitchell, Peter McGlynn, Luke Fitzpatrick.

Yellow Cards: Kelly (65)

Referee: Padraigh Sutton.

Attendance: 1,014.

Extratime Man Of The Match: Peter Cherrie (Bray Wanderers).