Report: Bray Wanderers 1 - 0 Derry City

Unfancied Bray Wanderers surprised ten-man Derry City by winning 1-0 in a tight battle at the Carlisle Grounds. Alan Cawley scored a penalty as Clive Delaney was sent off on his return to Bray.

A poor first half saw both sides struggle to take control in what was, for the most part, a scrappy midfield battle. Bray had the first shot on target on 24 minutes. Mark Duggan played the ball into the box and, as the Derry defence stood still waiting for an offside flag, Ger Rowe volleyed first time. His shot was weakly hit and keeper Gerard Doherty palmed the shot back out but Bray failed to capitalise.

On 33 minutes, Derry had a half-chance. From Kevin McHugh’s throw-in, Conor Sammon collected but his cross went straight across goal with no Derry player around to get a touch. A minute later, Derry forced keeper Chris O’Connor into a save. Morrison’s corner from the right was headed goalwards by ex-Seagull Clive Delaney but O’Connor was able to claw the ball away from goal and out for another Derry corner.

In the 39th minute, Derry again threatened, but after Sammon and Morrison played a nice one-two, Sammon’s pass could not be converted by McHugh who failed to make a proper connection. Bray had the final chance of a dour half when Ger Rowe fired over from 25 yards. Gavin Whelan had found him in space just outside the box, but his rising shot went well over.

The second half was a vast improvement and inside three minutes of the restart, Conor Sammon had two brilliant chances. After a long ball, the ball broke to Sammon who held off his marker before shooting straight at O’Connor from eight yards out. The rebound fell to Sammon but his follow up was cleared off the line by Derek Pender. On 64 minutes, Derry had another good chance. After Niall McGinn’s pass into the box, Ciarán Martyn controlled but his effort went well wide when he should have done better.

Five minutes after that, Bray had a chance. Cawley’s flick header set up Rowe who charged forward before Peter Hutton tackled excellently to halt his advance. Colm Tresson picked up the loose ball and moved into the box, but his shot was blocked by Delaney.

The game turned on 75 minutes. From Gerard Doherty’s weak goal-kick, Patrick Kavanagh headed the ball forward to Rowe who burst into the Derry box but he was hauled down by Delaney. The ex-Seagull was given a straight red. Cawley stepped up and blasted his penalty goalwards. It struck the crossbar before bouncing over the goal-line.

Derry then pushed forward as they tried to salvage something from the game and two minutes later sub Niall McGinn did well to put a cross into the box, but another sub, Mark Farren, could not connect and the chance was lost. Two minutes after that, McGinn and Farren combined well again when Farren knocked the ball on and McGinn fired goalwards but O’Connor saved well.

Bray held on for the remaining minutes as Derry failed to create any real chances. Bray stretch their unbeaten run to three games with this victory. They will now be confident heading to bottom-of-the-table Galway United next week in Terryland Park. Derry’s recent slump continues as they are without a win in three games and next week they face Bohemians at Dalymount Park.

Bray Wanderers: Chris O'Connor; Derek Pender, Kevin Doherty, Derek Foran, Gary Cronin; Gavin Whelan, Colm Tresson, Alan Cawley, Mark Duggan (Ray Kenny ‘83); Ger Rowe (Paul Dunphy ‘80), Paddy Kavanagh.
Subs not used: Gavin McInerney, Shane O'Neill, Stephen Lawless.

Booked: Foran (32)

Derry City: Ger Doherty; Eddie McCallion (Niall McGinn ‘60), Peter Hutton, Clive Delaney, Steven Grey; Gareth McGlynn, Ciaran Martyn, Barry Molloy, Owen Morrison (Ruaidhri Higgins ‘82); Kevin McHugh, Conor Sammon (Mark Farren ‘60).
Subs not used: Paul Simon Tracey, Aaron Callaghan.

Booked: Hutton (54).
Sent off: Delaney (74).

Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork).
Attendance: 1,400 (estimate)
Man of the match: Colm Tresson (Bray Wanderers).