League Report: Drogheda United 3 - 1 Bray Wanderers

Gerard Grimes reports from United Park

Drogheda United returned to winning ways against Bray Wanderers on Friday night with a 3-1 win over Bray Wanderers, thanks to goals from Mark Doyle, James Clarke and Stephen Meaney.

The home side took the lead on ten minutes with what was the first shot on target for either side in the game.

Chris Lyons dropped deep before finding James Brown on the right. Brown played the ball down the line to Bermingham and the winger took on his man before playing a low ball into the Bray box.

That ball found Mark Doyle who controlled well and finished across Maher into the far corner.

Drogheda doubled the lead three minutes later thanks to a moment of individual brilliance from James Clarke.

A Jake Hyland free from just inside the Bray half was headed away in the Bray box but only to Clarke on the edge of the area.

The midfielder controlled on his chest, flicked the ball over a defender and volleyed low into the bottom corner on his left to give Tim Clancy’s side a two goal advantage.

Maher twice denied Brandon Bermingham shortly after, denying the teenager from a long range free kick and then producing a good save low to his right after Clarke had played his teammate in on goal.

Bray were growing more into the game as the half went on, and Sean McEvoy was first to test Odumosu with a strike from 20 yards that was saved by the Drogheda keeper.

Maher then denied Lyons in a one-one-one before Bray had a number of chances before the half ended.

First, Cantwell’s header at the back post from a Keegan free was claimed by Odumosu. Then, McEvoy, at the centre of everything for the visitors on the night, saw a strike deflected wide for a corner.

Bray found their way back into the game early in the second half. Paul Keegan found McEvoy who looked to thread a ball through to Graydon.

That pass was cut out by a sliding Jack Tuite who diverted the ball back into the path of McEvoy and he found the far corner, finishing past Odumosu.

The visitors could have equalised minutes later but were denied as they countered from a mistake at a Drogheda corner. 

Callum Thompson broke free on the right wing, taking the ball to the edge of the box before squaring to Derek Daly.

Daly beat Odumosu with his effort but was denied by a goal line clearance from the back tracking James Clarke.

Bray were pushing for an equaliser and Daly was again denied from the next chance as his long range effort was saved by Odumosu, who produced a fine fingertip save.

Drogheda restored their two goal advantage with three minutes to play when substitute Meaney found Bermingham on the edge of the box.

The winger then drilled an effort back across goal towards Meaney who made no mistake from eight yards.

Odumosu made two further saves in injury time, getting down low at his near post to deny Darragh Lynch from close range before making another fingertip save, this time tipping a Ryan Graydon free kick over the bar.

Drogheda United: David Odumosu; James Brown, Jack Tuite, Derek Prendergast, Conor Kane; Jake Hyland (C) (Sean Brennan HT’), Richie O’Farrell, James Clarke (Ryan O’Shea 65’); Brandon Bermingham (Hugh Douglas 89’), Chris Lyons (Stephen Meaney 81’), Mark Doyle.

Subs Not Used: Ross Treacy (GK), Frank Cabraley, Jordan Adeyemo.

Bray Wanderers: Brian Maher; John Ross Wilson, Killian Cantwell, Dylan Barnett, Derek Daly; Sean McEvoy (Marlon Marishta 27’), Callum Thompson, Paul Keegan (C) (Darragh Lynch 76’), Luka Lovic, Joe Doyle; Gary Shaw (Ryan Graydon 44’).

Subs Not Used: Adam Hayden (GK), Aaron Barry, Tristan Noack Hoffman, Jack Watson.

Attendance: 0.

Referee: Alan Carey.

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: James Clarke (Drogheda United).