REPORT: Shamrock Rovers 2 - 0 Bray Wanderers

Shamrock Rovers moved up to second place in the table thanks to a convincing two nil win over a lusterless Bray Wanderers. It could have all been different if ex Rover Ger Rowe had been able to slot the ball home after he had rounded Barry Murphy. Instead Rowe's weak shot was blocked on the line by Pat Flynn and just a minute later Alan Murphy scored his second league goal of the season. A second half goal from Dessie Baker put the result beyond doubt.

Both sides looked a little bit over eager in the opening exchanges and as a result the game started as a scrappy affair. After ten minutes a neat ball over the top by Stephen Rice nearly found Dessie Baker, but Bray full back Ronan Ivory cleared to safety. There were some half hearted penalty appeals as the ball bounced up but referee Buttimer wasnt interested.

Shortly after that Rowe wasted his gilt edged opportunity and Rovers moved the ball upfield. Rice was again involved and picked out John Martin on the right hand side. Martin beat his man and whipped a low teasing ball across the the face of the goal that Alan Murphy directed into the net.

Rovers came close to making it two a few minutes later. Darragh Maguire made life difficult for the Bray keeper and as the ball spilled Murphy's attempt to hook it goal bound ended up a couple of yards wide of the upright. Bray then once again had problems dealing with the high ball and were unable to clear their lines adequately despite having a couple of chances. The ball eventually came to Rice outside the box but his drive was always rising and didn't trouble the target.

Bray went on to enjoy some limited success on their left. Martin was slow tracking back and left Ger O'Brien exposed on a number of occasions. Martins distribution also proved poor. Two more lofted free kicks into the Bray box again highlighted a major weakness in the Seagulls rearguard and Rovers will count themselves unlucky not to have taken advantage. Gary McCabe picked up a caution just before the interval.

The visitors enjoyed the first attack of the second half but when Rovers cleared the ball and attempted to break quickly Bray were to be reduced to ten men. Rice wanted to take a quick free kick and a minor scuffle ensued. McCabe pushed defender Barry Ferguson and the referee, who was only a few steps away had little choice but to issue a second yellow card to the young Wanderers winger.

Following the dismissal one or two over zealous tackles flew in. Pat Kavanagh hacked down Martin to earn a yellow card. From the resulting free kick Rovers should have went two up but Maguire couldn't keep his header from seven yards down. Martin then exacted some retribution on Kavanagh and surprisingly escaped without going into the officials notebook.

The Hoops got the second goal they deserved just after the hour mark. Maguire flicked on O'Brien's nicely weighted pass and Baker found himself in space on the right hand side of the box. The ex Longford striker steadied himself with his first touch and smacked the ball into the net from twelve yards

Not long after that Baker came close to adding a third but he wasnt able to connect properly with an O'Connor cross from the left. Eoin Doyle again made an impact after he was introduced - this week in place of Murphy. Neat interplay from Rice and Maguire saw the ball arrive at Doyle's feet at the corner of the box. The young striker, who turned twenty last week, cut inside and curled a teasing ball into the box. Another substitute, Tadhg Purcell, was loitering at the far post and was only inches away from putting the finishing touches on an impressive passage of play. Rovers enjoyed lots of possession right up to final whistle but were not able to register a third.

Apart from a few half chances and Rowe's miss Bray offered little as an attacking entity for the duration of the game. Murphy in the Rovers goal had a quiet night. Defeat leaves Bray with just one point from a possible nine and based on their last two performances they will need to improve beyond recognition if they are to have any hope of matching manager Gormley's assertion that they are capable of a finishing high enough to earn a European place.

Rovers went about the task at hand with a minimum of fuss and fully deserved the three points. Darragh Maguire was excellent at the back for the third week running and Stephen Rice has really settled in quickly in midfield and is already a key player. A return of seven points from the opening three games has to be seen as a great start and lifts them to second in the table behind St Pats.

Next up for Rovers is a trip to Terryland next Saturday, while Bray host early pace setter St Pats on Friday night.

Shamrock Rovers: Brian Murphy; Ger O'Brien, Darragh Maguire, Barry Ferguson, Pat Flynn; Jonathan Martin (Tadhg Purcell, 67 mins), Eric McGill, Stephen Rice, Sean O'Connor; Alan Murphy (Eoin Doyle, 59), Dessie Baker.
Subs not used: Darren Stapleton, Karl Coleman, Robbie Creevy.

Booked: O'Connor (35).
 

Bray Wanderers: Chris O'Connor; Ronan Ivory (Kevin Doherty 73), Colm Tresson, Ray Kenny, Derek Pender; Paddy Kavanagh, Alan Cawley, Gavin Whelan, Gary McCabe; John Mulroy (Emeka Onwubiko, 81), Ger Rowe (Paul Dunphy, 81).
Subs not used: Gavin McInerney, Gary Cronin.

Booked: McCabe (40).
Sent Off: McCabe (49).
 

Referee: Anthony Buttimer.
Attendance: 1,600 (estimate).