League Report: Bray Wanderers 4 - 2 Shamrock Rovers

The Seagulls continued their impressive season so far with a stunning 4-2 win over Shamrock Rovers at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday night. A brace from Gary McCabe, along with goals from Dylan Connolly and Jason Marks, earned Bray their fourth victory from five home league matches. For the Seagulls it was the first time in six years and 18 attempts that they got a win over the Hoops.

Four minutes from the half time break Rovers had a goal advantage and, after having the best of the play in the opening half, they would have been deserving of the half time lead. However when Anthony Buttimer blew the half-time whistle somehow the Hoops trooped off 3-1 down, with the ref central to the scoreline.

The Hoops had taken the lead on ten minutes after they carved open the Bray defence. Brandon Miele's through ball allowed Graham Burke to get to the end line and his pull back found an unmarked Darren Meenan who powered it home from the edge of the six yard box.

Ten minutes later some in the crowd thought the Hoops had doubled their lead as Gary Shaw hit the side netting. Sam Bone had stepped out of central defence with the ball. He fed Burke who found Shaw wide on the right. He cut inside and got his shot away but it was just off target.

Bray’s attacking quartet of Ryan Brennan, Gary McCabe, Dylan Connolly and Aaron Greene combined well for the home team, which meant the Hoops defence needed to be on their toes.

McCabe had a free kick that he hit into the Rovers wall but with the rebound he flashed it just wide of the post. On the half hour mark they went even closer. Greene's shot from distance moved wickedly through the air. Tomer Chencinski could only bat it out and when Brennan got the rebound he had all of the goal to aim at but hit the frame of it. 

Four minutes before the break Bray got back level through in-form McCabe. His header put him into double digits goals in the league. He ran onto a Keith Buckley cross from the right, after some good link up play by Brennan.

The Seagulls then took the lead a minute into the two allotted of injury time. Connolly scored with a wonderful finish whipping the ball by Chencinski off a fine diagonal ball from Greene.

Step forward Anthony Buttimer, who deep into injury gave the home side a penalty that Gary McCabe made no mistake from in the fourth minute of injury as he scored his 11^th of the league campaign.

Chencinksi had to recover a dropped ball and when he did it seemed Brennan challenged him unfairly. The two players squared up as Chencinski reacted, before Buttimer pointed to the spot and gave the Rovers ‘keeper a yellow card.

Unsurprisingly the Seagulls sat off Rovers in the opening period of the second half. While the Hoops created some chances, an early Brandon Miele header the best, Bray were also looking to break quickly.

From one of their sweeping moves, a minute before the hour mark, Jason Marks got their fourth with the aid of a helpful Hoop deflection off Simon Madden. It all came from good work by Connolly with his pull back dispatched with power by Marks who celebrated by putting his finger to his lips in front of the stunned Hoops fans.

It went from bad to worse for Rovers who were reduced to ten men after substitute Michael O’Connor got a red card for a clash at the corner flag. While James Doona did get a consolation goal, his first in the league for Rovers, the result means the Hoops slumped to their six defeat in ten league matches this season.

The victory kept Bray third in the table, on a night that Dundalk were victorious, with both sides still nine points behind pace setters Cork City who made it ten wins out of ten.

Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Keith Buckley, Tim Clancy, Derek Foran, Jason Marks; Ryan Brennan (Karl Moore 79), Mark Salmon, John Sullivan, Dylan Connolly (Jamie Aherne 83); Gary McCabe (Darragh Noone 85); Aaron Greene.

Subs not used: Lee Steacy (gk), Alan Kehoe, Conor Kenna, Anto Flood.

Booked: Aaron Greene (34), Gary McCabe (77).

Shamrock Rovers: Tomer Chencinski; Simon Madden, Sam Bone, Dave Webster, Trevor Clarke; Darren Meenan (James Doona 66), Roberto Lopes, Ronan Finn, Brandon Miele; Graham Burke (Michael O'Connor 61); Gary Shaw (Sean Boyd 75).

Subs not used: Kevin Horgan (gk), Luke Byrne, Shane Hanney, David McAllister.

Booked: Roberto Lopes (34), Tomer Chencinski (45+3), Darren Meenan (52).

Sent Off: Michael O’Connor (81).

Referee: Anthony Buttimer.

Attendance: 2,225.

Extratime.ie man of the match: Gary McCabe (Bray Wanderers).