Report: Bohemians 1 - 1 Bray Wanderers

Bray Wanderers grabbed a richly deserved point against a below par Bohemians at Dalymount Park on Friday night. Alan Cawley fired the Seagulls into a surprise lead from the penalty spot just after just three minutes, before Jason Byrne pulled the home side level just after the hour mark with another spot-kick.

Bohemians dominated for large periods but were generally wasteful in possession and Eddie Gormley’s men will feel unfortunate not to have grabbed all three points, with first Cawley and then Mark Duggan going agonisingly close in the dying minutes.

Bohs manager Pat Fenlon had the luxury of naming an unchanged side from that which defeated Shamrock Rovers, with Killian Brennan and Ken Oman having to make do with a place on the bench. Bray made just one change with Colm Tresson replacing Gary McCabe in midfield. Bohs went into the game as clear favourites having won four of their opening five matches, while Bray had managed to find the net just once.

However, the form book went straight out the window after just three minutes when Cawley coolly slotted home from the penalty spot after referee Hugo Whoriskey adjudged Liam Burns to have pulled back Ger Rowe. Bohs almost hit straight back just three minutes later when John Paul Kelly burst down the right before playing in Jason Byrne whose mis-hit shot bobbled harmlessly wide of the post.

The Seagulls were proving more than a match for the home side and Rowe almost doubled their advantage after 20 minutes. The former Shamrock Rovers-man shrugged off the challenge of Burns before unleashing a powerful drive which looked destined for the roof of the net before Brian Murphy threw up a hand to tip the ball over the bar. That scare seemed to waken up the home side and Glen Crowe was unlucky not to find the net just moments later. John Paul Kelly flicked a delightful ball over the heads of the Bray defence and into the path of Crowe, but his lobbed shot was scooped away by the fingertips of O’Connor.

Bohs did have the ball in the net after 23 minutes. McGuinness headed home Byrne’s cross from the right corner, but the linesman had already raised his flag for offside. The Gypsies were beginning to take control and Mark Rossiter’s 30-yard drive almost caught O’Connor by surprise, the goalkeeper spilling the ball. Byrne was following up but from a tight angle he fired his shot straight at O’Connor. Byrne was wasteful again six minutes before the interval when he blasted over from 12-yard after Owen Heary’s cross from the right somehow found its way through the legs of the Bray centre-backs.

It took Bohs until the hour mark to muster their first chance of the second half. The head of Crowe flicked substitute Killian Brennan’s cross into the path of Kelly but his fierce half-volley was tipped over by the in-form O’Connor.

Bohs finally did grab the equaliser three minutes later, when referee Whoriskey awarded what appeared to be another soft penalty. Glenn Cronin slipped the ball through to Kelly in the box who tumbled under the challenge of Gary Cronin. The referee’s decision to point to the spot prompted outrage in the Bray ranks – with no less than four players booked for over-protesting. Jason Byrne slotted home low into the bottom left corner.

Bray really should have won it late on. On 86, Kavanagh played a sublime ball into Cawley on the edge of the area but his side-footed shot went inches wide of Murphy’s right-hand post. Cawley then turned provider, playing in Mark Duggan whose drive from 16 yards sailed narrowly wide.

Bohemians: Brian Murphy; Owen Heary, Liam Burns, Jason McGuinness, Conor Powell; Mark Rossiter (Killian Brennan 56), Stephen O’Donnell (Chris Turner 83), Glenn Cronin, John Paul Kelly; Glen Crowe (Darren Mansaram 75), Jason Byrne.
Subs not used: Chris Konopka, Ken Oman.

Booked: Crowe (21), McGuinness (85), Byrne (90).

Bray Wanderers: Chris O’Connor; Ronan Ivory, Kevin Doherty, Derek Foran, Gary Cronin; Paddy Kavanagh (Gary McCabe 87), Alan Cawley, Gavin Whelan, Colm Tresson, Mark Duggan (Derek Pender 90); Ger Rowe (Paul Dunphy 78).
Subs not used: Ray Kenny, Gavin McInerney.

Booked: Doherty (21), O’Connor (63), Cronin (63), Cawley (63), Duggan (63).

Referee: Hugo Whoriskey (Westmeath).
Attendance: 1,720
Man of the match: Alan Cawley (Bray Wanderers).