League Report: Bray Wanderers 1 - 2 Galway United

Marc Ludden was the hero for Galway United as they claimed a 2-1 win over Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds on Saturday evening. Eric Foley gave the visitors a one nil lead at the interval before Marc Ludden converted his sides second of the game to ensure that all three points would be heading back to Galway despite Andrew Lewis netting a late consolation.

Bray Wanderers were only inches away from opening the scoring in the moments after kick-off as the first chance saw Ryan Brennan find Ger Pender, who was three yards from goal, but he put his effort wide of the United goal.

The opening 10 minutes saw the Seagulls enjoy plenty of possession in the opposition half but the hosts could only muster up a couple of half-chances to show for all their early dominance.

Mark Salmon was causing problems early on for the United backline as he stole possession from Gary Shanahan in midfield but couldn’t quite find Robbie Creevy with the cross.

As the Galway team settled is was The Tribesmen that took the opportunity to go in front.

Midway through the half Wanderers defender Hugh Douglas fouled Vinny Faherty just outside the Bray penalty area. While Faherty and Eric Foley stood over the dead ball, it was Foley with a short run up and a magnificent strike that rifled the top right corner, leaving Peter Cherrie and his defence with no chance. It was a brilliant long range free kick and worthy of a goal.

Looking for an immediate response, the Seagulls Karl Moore fired an effort wide from just outside the box.

Further chances came Galway United’s way as Foley again had a free kick but he failed to hit the target and it was the team from the west who went into the break one nil up.

It was Galway that had the first chance of the second half. On 48 minutes Marc Ludden played a square ball to Galways Kevin Devaney and he rifled his shot off the left post and it was the woodwork that saved Bray on that occasion

Galway almost doubled their lead with just under fifteen minutes to go. A breaking ball from a blocked shot by Hugh Douglas found Galway defender Marc Ludden who noticed Peter Cherrie out of position, the keeper was caught out badly and Ludden’s 40 yard screamer found its way spectacularly into the back of the net. At 2-0 it looked game set and match and the travelling fans were certainly enjoying their trip to Dublin as Ludden celebrated with them.

Despite the setback Bray kept their heads up and were eventually rewarded with a goal when Andrew Lewis buried a Ryan Brennan pass into the Galway United goal.

It didn’t end as well as The Seagulls would have liked but that’s not to say the home side didn’t go down fighting. Alex Byrne and Colm Horgan had their work cut out in the closing minutes.

It was a win that Galway needed and it put an end to their three successive defeats while moving them up to fifth in the table. Bray manager Harry Kenny sees his team slip to 11^th, this defeat being their forth in a row.

Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Hugh Douglas, Alan McNally, Conor Kenna, Jason Marks

Karl Moore, Robbie Creevy, Mark Salmon (Dean Kelly 60), Dylan Connolly; Ger Pender (Andrew Lewis 74), Ryan Brennan

Subs not used: Aaron Shanahan (GK) ,Gareth McDonagh, Darragh Noone, Daniel Blackbyrne, Alan Byrne.

Galway United: Conor Winn; Colm Horgan, Alex Byrne, Armin Aganovic, Marc Ludden, Stephen Walsh (Kilian Cantwell 61), Gary Shanahan, Alex Byrne, Eric Foley, Kevin Devaney; Ruairi Keating (Jesse Devers 90), Vinny Faherty (Paul Sinnott 85).

Subs not used: Kevin Horgan (GK), Conor Melody, Cormac Raftery, Conor Gleeson.

Booked: Ruairi Keating (65)

Referee: Adriano Reale

Attendance: 400 (estimate)

Extratime.ie Player of the Match:  Eric Foley (Galway United)