League Report: Bray Wanderers 1 - 1 Cabinteely

Gareth Danaher reports from the Carlisle Grounds

The east coast derby ended in a draw at a rain-soaked Carlisle Grounds on Friday night as the league leaders were held to a 1-1 draw by the Seagulls.

Vilius Labutis equalised for Cabinteely in the second half after Jake Ellis had put Bray in front early on, while Dylan McGlade missed a penalty in the closing stages.

The game got off to a quiet start by both teams zipping the ball around the pitch well. It was very equal in the opening 21 minutes until Bray’s Jake Ellis found the net.

Derek Daly did well to set the striker up as he darted in around the Cabinteely defence before chopping the ball to Ellis to finish.

Cabo woke up after conceding though as they were slick in midfield and produced numerous lightning quick moves that troubled Hugh Douglas and Killian Cantwell in the Bray defence.

Bray probed for a second goal without success as they had a number of efforts from Dylan McGlade and Dean O’Halloran failed to trouble the net.

Ellis thought he was going to double his tally four minutes before the break as O’Halloran played in a neat ball to play him one-on-one with Stephen McGuinness but the ex-Bray keeper saw it out for a corner.

The second half started in favour of Cabinteely as they equalised two minutes in as Labutis tucked the ball home at the far post after a deep cross was whipped in by Keith Dalton.

Star man Rob Manley was played in on goal for a chance to put Cabinteely in front but Bray keeper Gabriel Sava sprinted off his line to deny Manley’s effort.

O’Halloran won Bray a penalty on the 67^th minute as he darted away from the Cabinteely defence and was bundled over in the box. Referee Eoghan O’Shea pointed to the spot.

McGlade stepped up to take the penalty and his effort was saved by McGuinness. Gary Cronin and the Bray technical staff were raging from the sidelines.

Daniel Blackbyrne was helped off the pitch moments after as he collided with keeper Sava. It looked like he hurt his back in the process.

Ex-Longford Town man McGlade would fail to score moments later when McGuinness produced a fine stop and Phillip Gannon couldn’t execute the rebound.

The Bray fans were nearly in delight two minutes before the final whistle when Dylan Barnett’s corner was whipped in to find Bray veteran Douglas.

His headed effort grazed the bar, however, and McGuinness in the Cabinteely goal survived a heart-stopping moment.

Bray Wanderers: Gabriel Sava; Hugh Douglas, Darragh Gibbons, Dylan Barnett, Killian Cantwell, Paul Keegan, Dean O’Halloran, Phillip Gannon, Dylan McGlade, Derek Daly (Luke Nolan 78), Jake Ellis (Richie Purdy 58).

Subs not used: Adam Hayden (gk), Sean Heaney, Andrew McGovern, Luka Lovic, Cian Maher.

Cabinteely: Stephen McGuinness; Daniel Blackbyrne (Jack Hudson 64), Jack Tuite, Conor Keely, Jack Watson (Eoin Massey 83), Keith Dalton, Robert Manley, Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters, Vilius Labutis, Zak O’Neill, Jonathan Carlin (Luke Clucas 46).

Subs not used: Peter Quinlan (gk), Sean Hurley, Shane Barnes, Sean Fitzpatrick.

Booked: Jonathan Carlin (39).

Referee: Eoghan O’Shea.

Attendance: 639 (official).

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Vilius Labutis (Cabinteely).