Dundalk FC 0-2 Bray Wanderers

Bray Wanderers continued their one-hundred percent start to 2008 at Oriel Park on Saint Valentine's Night as the Wicklow club inflicted Dundalk's first defeat of pre-season. Wanderers entered the game on the back of two straight one-goal wins over Limerick and Longford, and they added another First Division club to their hit list here as a long-range strike from Mark Duggan and an own-goal from Trevor Vaughan handed them a 2-0 win.

In a slow start by the hosts, Bray created four glorious chances before they eventually went ahead just shy of the half-hour. Having missed four one-on-ones in the opening part of the game, Wanderers hit Dundalk on the break following a corner, with Duggan firing home a cracking 30-yard effort after the Lilywhites failed to clear their lines properly, before Vaughan's header secured a deserved victory.

Dundalk started with a makeshift back line as reserve 'keeper Aaron Shanahan, young defenders Stefan McKevitt and Shane Grimes, and centre-half Ben Whelehan - who made his first appearance in almost nine months - joined Ian Ryan in the back five. A more noticeable midfield and forward line were on show, while the visitors Bray had close-season signing Gavin Whelan among their starting XI.

Indeed, the end result could have been very different had Robbie Farrell fired the home side in front from a good position early on, however, after that, it was all Bray as the visitors seemed intent on making an early breakthrough. John Mulroy, the young striker, was at the heart of everything good Bray done, and he almost found a lead goal after only five minutes, however, Shanahan did well to tip his shot over.

Gary McCabe then had an opportunity after being put through by Emeka Onwubiko, however, Shanahan got down well to gather at the second attempt, before Mulroy again found himself in on goal shortly after. However, this time, the forward totally mis-kicked with the grateful keeper cleaning up the danger with ease. Just two minutes later, Mulroy was presented with the ideal opening to make up for that slip-up, however, the busy Shanahan was equal to it as he again saved well.

It didn't take long for Bray to get that deserved deadlock breaker, however, as on 27 minutes, Mark Duggan drilled home a fabulous shot to Shanahan's bottom left-hand corner from all of 30-yards. Hit by that, Dundalk responded with some possession, however, their lack of cutting edge in attack meant the visitors retired at half-time with a comfortable goal lead. At the interval, Gill made a triple substitution in a bid to inject some life into his side, however, it wasn't to work, as Mulroy headed narrowly over on 54 minutes, in a warning which the Oriel outfit should have heeded.

They failed to do so, however, and Bray doubled their lead on the hour-mark. The Dundalk defence failed to deal with a wickedly struck free-kick from the left, with the unlucky Trevor Vaughan glancing the ball into his own net. Onwubiko then almost made it three soon after, only for his powerful shot from the edge of the area to crash back off the bottom of the post. Shanahan then tipped over John Flood's header, before the 'keeper, who easily earned the 'Man of the Match' award, pulled off another fantastic save to deny Paddy Kavanagh's stinging 25 yard effort.

Dundalk FC (4-4-2): Aaron Shanahan; Stefan McKevitt, Ben Whelehan (John Flanagan 46), Ian Ryan (Paul Smyth 57), Shane Grimes; Jamie Duffy (Tiarnan Mulvenna 63), Paul Marney, David Cassidy (Paul Shiels 46), Robbie Martin; Trevor Vaughan (Billy Smith 82), Robbie Farrell (Davie O'Connor 46).
Subs Not Used: None.

Bray Wanderers (4-4-2): Chris O'Connor; Derek Pender, Kevin Doherty (Clive Delaney 46), Ronan Ivory, Ray Kenny; Paddy Kavanagh, Gavin Whelan, Mark Duggan (Stephen Lawless 65), Gary McCabe (John Flood 60); Emeka Onwubiko (Paul Dunphy 74), John Mulroy.
Subs Not Used: Colm Tresson, Gary Cronin, Andre Georgescu, John Broderick.

Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin).

Attendance: 250 (estimate).