Bray Wanderers 0 - 2 Charlton Athletic
Credit:
Bray Wanderers were easily pushed aside by an efficient performance by English League One side Charlton Athletic in Wednesday night's friendly at the Carlisle Grounds. Chris McCready and Lloyd Sam got the goals for the Addicks who also missed a penalty from Izale McLeod.
Charlton had the first chance of the evening with 11 minutes gone. Lloyd Sam's ball was chested down by Jonjo Shelvey at the back post. After knocking the ball back to Nicky Bailey, Bailey drove the ball at goal from the edge of the area only for it to be blocked by Stephen Brennan.
Five minutes later, Charlton nearly took the lead through a mistake by Wanderers' Chris O'Connor. O'Connor ran off the line to clear the ball on the left-hand side of the box but his clearance was blocked by Stuart Fleetwood. The ball then fell to Shelvey but O'Connor recovered to smother the ball.
Charlton's early pressure tolled in the 22nd minute when Chris McCready gave them the lead with a header. Jonjo Shelvey's corner from the left landed on the forehead of McCready who powered a header in from inside the six-yard box.
While the best Bray could manage in the first half was a deflected shot by Dave Mulcahy in the 35th minute, Athletic looked much more dangerous in the middle of the park and doubled their lead in the 40th minute when Man of the Match Lloyd Sam scored with a tap in at the far post. Shelvey was the provider once again and his ball from the left was met by Sam who came in from the right and sidefooted home from a few yards out.
Right before the interval, Charlton nearly grabbed another when a one-two between Fleetwood and Shelvey set Fleetwood clear in the box. However, O'Connor was quick off his line to thwart Charlton.
Following a flurry of substitutes by both sides in the second half, the game died down, although the visitors did miss a penalty in the 66th minute. Following a foul by Dane Massey on Scott Wagstaff, Izale McLeod stepped up. Despite having sent keeper Brian Kane the wrong way, his effort went wide of the right-hand post.
In the final twelve minutes, the Seagulls finally began to create some chances. Ian Tuohy's strike from 25-yards went inches wide after he was set up by Darren Forsyth in the 78th minute.
With five minutes to go, a cross by Daire Doyle was met by the head of Forsyth who forced Robbie Elliott into his first real save of the game with a header that seemed destined for the bottom corner.
In the space of a minute, Bray went close twice more. With two minutes remaining, Dane Massey's 35-yard drive had to be tipped over by Elliott. From Richie O'Hanlon's resulting corner, Elliott missed the ball and Daire Doyle steered the ball to goal with a header. Doyle was denied a goal though as Charlton cleared the ball off the line.
Although the hosts threatened towards the final whistle, 2-0 was a fair result as Charlton were much the better side over the ninety minutes.
Bray Wanderers (4-5-1): Chris O'Connor ; Derek Pender, Stephen Brennan , Dave Webster, Philip Knight; Gareth Coughlan, Dave O'Neill, Dave Mulcahy, Chris Shields, Jake Kelly; Patrick Kavanagh.
Subs used: Brian Kane, Derek Pender, Dean Fletcher, Ian Tuohy, Richie O'Hanlon, Dane Massey, John Mulroy, Daire Doyle, Colm Tresson, Gary McCabe, Shane O'Neill, Darren Forsyth, Nicky Byrne.
Subs not used: Andy McNulty.
Bookings: None.
Charlton Athletic (4-4-2): Robbie Elliott; Frazer Richardson, Chris McCready, Miguel Llera, Grant Basey; Lloyd Sam, Matt Spring, Thierry Racon, Nicky Bailey; Stuart Fleetwood, Jonjo Shelvey.
Subs used: Scott Wagstaff, Chris Dixon, Yado Mambo, Jack Clark, Deon Burton, Kris O'Leary, Alex Stavrinou, Tamer Tuna, Izale McLeod.
Subs not used: Darren Randolph.
Bookings: None.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Lloyd Sam - Charlton's right winger was the focus of many of their attacks.
Referee: Declan Hanney (Dublin).
Attendance: 250 (estimate).
Charlton had the first chance of the evening with 11 minutes gone. Lloyd Sam's ball was chested down by Jonjo Shelvey at the back post. After knocking the ball back to Nicky Bailey, Bailey drove the ball at goal from the edge of the area only for it to be blocked by Stephen Brennan.
Five minutes later, Charlton nearly took the lead through a mistake by Wanderers' Chris O'Connor. O'Connor ran off the line to clear the ball on the left-hand side of the box but his clearance was blocked by Stuart Fleetwood. The ball then fell to Shelvey but O'Connor recovered to smother the ball.
Charlton's early pressure tolled in the 22nd minute when Chris McCready gave them the lead with a header. Jonjo Shelvey's corner from the left landed on the forehead of McCready who powered a header in from inside the six-yard box.
While the best Bray could manage in the first half was a deflected shot by Dave Mulcahy in the 35th minute, Athletic looked much more dangerous in the middle of the park and doubled their lead in the 40th minute when Man of the Match Lloyd Sam scored with a tap in at the far post. Shelvey was the provider once again and his ball from the left was met by Sam who came in from the right and sidefooted home from a few yards out.
Right before the interval, Charlton nearly grabbed another when a one-two between Fleetwood and Shelvey set Fleetwood clear in the box. However, O'Connor was quick off his line to thwart Charlton.
Following a flurry of substitutes by both sides in the second half, the game died down, although the visitors did miss a penalty in the 66th minute. Following a foul by Dane Massey on Scott Wagstaff, Izale McLeod stepped up. Despite having sent keeper Brian Kane the wrong way, his effort went wide of the right-hand post.
In the final twelve minutes, the Seagulls finally began to create some chances. Ian Tuohy's strike from 25-yards went inches wide after he was set up by Darren Forsyth in the 78th minute.
With five minutes to go, a cross by Daire Doyle was met by the head of Forsyth who forced Robbie Elliott into his first real save of the game with a header that seemed destined for the bottom corner.
In the space of a minute, Bray went close twice more. With two minutes remaining, Dane Massey's 35-yard drive had to be tipped over by Elliott. From Richie O'Hanlon's resulting corner, Elliott missed the ball and Daire Doyle steered the ball to goal with a header. Doyle was denied a goal though as Charlton cleared the ball off the line.
Although the hosts threatened towards the final whistle, 2-0 was a fair result as Charlton were much the better side over the ninety minutes.
Bray Wanderers (4-5-1): Chris O'Connor ; Derek Pender, Stephen Brennan , Dave Webster, Philip Knight; Gareth Coughlan, Dave O'Neill, Dave Mulcahy, Chris Shields, Jake Kelly; Patrick Kavanagh.
Subs used: Brian Kane, Derek Pender, Dean Fletcher, Ian Tuohy, Richie O'Hanlon, Dane Massey, John Mulroy, Daire Doyle, Colm Tresson, Gary McCabe, Shane O'Neill, Darren Forsyth, Nicky Byrne.
Subs not used: Andy McNulty.
Bookings: None.
Charlton Athletic (4-4-2): Robbie Elliott; Frazer Richardson, Chris McCready, Miguel Llera, Grant Basey; Lloyd Sam, Matt Spring, Thierry Racon, Nicky Bailey; Stuart Fleetwood, Jonjo Shelvey.
Subs used: Scott Wagstaff, Chris Dixon, Yado Mambo, Jack Clark, Deon Burton, Kris O'Leary, Alex Stavrinou, Tamer Tuna, Izale McLeod.
Subs not used: Darren Randolph.
Bookings: None.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Lloyd Sam - Charlton's right winger was the focus of many of their attacks.
Referee: Declan Hanney (Dublin).
Attendance: 250 (estimate).
About Finbarr O'Sullivan
Currently working in Brazil, Finbarr will be giving his take on Brazilian football in his regular Extratime.ie column. Finbarr peviously studied in Spain and worked in the Czech Republic and had regular column pieces on … View Full Profile