League Report: Bray Wanderers 1 - 0 Finn Harps

 

Conor Kenna's first-half header was the difference between the sides and the result was a worthy one, even if Bray made life difficult for themselves by not taking a host of chances in the opening 45 minutes. Harps composed themselves far better after the interval, but couldn't fashion much in the way of clear-cut chances.

 

Both sides came into the game defending recent unbeaten streaks, Bray hadn't lost in five while Harps hadn't lost in four. Peter Cherrie hadn't conceded in any of those five games, a spell which has coincided with the shot stopper's finest form of the season.

 

John Sullivan had Bray's first chance of note after three minutes, his curling long range effort landing on top of the net to the relief of Harps 'keeper Richard Brush.

 

Seagulls winger Dylan Connolly caused Harps a number of problems with his pace and direct running in the first-half. Ethan Boyle, at right-wing back, seemed to be initially tasked with shackling Connolly, but he had a difficult time of it.

 

First, Connolly was allowed to break down the left side on seven minutes and drive towards goal before squaring across the six yard box – but there wasn't a Bray shirt arriving for what would have been a simple tap-in.

 

Four minutes later and he passed up one of the chances of the game. Slipped through the defence slightly right of goal by Darragh Noone, Connolly hit the back of the net – literally, the back of the net behind the goal after his shot went wide and hit the advertising hoardings.

 

60 seconds later and Bray should have been ahead again, this time Andrew Lewis latching onto a loose ball after a Kevin Lynch cross had dropped in the area with Noone unable pull the trigger. However, Brush was equal to it, saving with his legs.

 

Kevin McHugh – making his first Premier Division start of the season for Harps – tried his luck from distance on the 20 minute mark but saw his shot blocked, with Bray 'keeper Peter Cherrie scrambling to avoid conceding the corner.

 

Some sloppy passing in the Bray midfield almost gifted Harps chances, but the hosts weren't to be denied and took the lead in the 32nd minute – and it was a straight-forward a goal as you can imagine.

 

Karl Moore swung over the corner and Conor Kenna rose highest to head beyond the helpless Brush. It was the Wanderers' skipper's first goal for the club.

 

Bray looked comfortable after that but another sloppy pass in midfield gifted Adam Hanlon possession. The former Seagull drove forward, played a one-two with McHugh and shot goalward – but Cherrie was equal to it.

 

The second-half was a scrappier affair, with Bray struggling to reassert their earlier dominance and Harps attempting to edge their way further up the pitch. The Donegal side settled into the game around the hour mark and looked the more likely to create something.

 

Nothing of note gave until the 63rd minute when Packie Mailey got down the right-wing and crossed.The delivery deflected favourably into the path of substitute Ruairi Keating, but he couldn't direct the bouncing ball on target, firing over the bar from close range. Ten minutes later another sub, Raymond Foy, blasted over from the edge of the box.

 

Heading into the final ten minutes the game suddenly sparked back into life again. It started with Tim Clancy – excellent up until this point – leaving Cherrie short with a backpass. The 'keeper's clearance cannoned off Keating, but he was able to recover and put it out for a throw.

 

Bray had been battering at Harps' door before this, with Sullivan seeing a glancing header from close range blocked. However, moments after the short backpass incident, Harps worked a free-kick to Molloy, but his shot was closed down. This started a Bray counter-attack.

 

Ryan Brennan galloped into space and had Connolly haring alongside him through the middle screaming for a pass. Brennan was forced to check back outside in the face of the retreating Harps defenders, but he swivelled and attempted to play Connolly through – and there was Molloy, redeeming himself to cut the pass out with a sliding challenge.

 

Though Harps were much improved in the second-half, with boss Ollie Horgan tweaking his side's formation throughout the game in search of the formula which would yield a goal, they were unable to create that one clearcut chance, with Cherrie woefully underworked in the Bray goal by the end.

 

Harry Kenny will be happy with the result which moves Bray further clear of the relegation zone, with Longford Town losing 4-0 to Derry City on Friday night and Wexford Youths' game against St. Patrick's Athletic this week postponed due to the Saints' Europa League involvement.

 

 

Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Hugh Douglas, Tim Clancy, Kevin Lynch; Karl Moore (Gareth McDonagh, 74), Darragh Noone (Ger Pender, 89), John Sullivan, Ryan Brennan, Dylan Connolly; Andrew Lewis.

Subs not used: Lee Steacy (GK), Alan McNally, Jason Marks, Sean Harding, Paul Finnegan.

Bookings: K Lynch (62), D Connolly (81), G McDonagh (90+2).

 

 

Finn Harps: Richard Brush; Keith Cowan, Packie Mailey, Damien McNulty (Michael Funston, 63); Josh Mailey, Sean Houston, Barry Molloy, Ethan Boyle, Adam Hanlon; David Scully (Raymond Foy, 63), Kevin McHugh (Ruairi Keating, HT).

Subs not used: Ciaran Gallagher (GK), Liam Flatley, Ryan Curran, Thomas McMonagle.

Bookings: D McNulty (21) D Scully (44), J Mailey (53), R Keating (69).

 

 

Referee: Robert Hennesey.

Attendance: 500 (est).

Extratime Man of the Match: Tim Clancy (Bray Wanderers).