League Report: Bray Wanderers 3 - 0 Athlone Town

Andrew Dempsey reports from the Carlisle Grounds

Bray Wanderers claimed their first home league win since September 2023 with a routine 3-0 dismissal of Athlone Town at the Carlisle Grounds. 

And the Seagulls have now catapulted themselves into sixth place following their victory. 

A first-half goal from Shane Griffin after Dylan Hand’s red card set them on their way before quickfire second half strikes from Paul Murphy and Peter Grogan sealed the deal. 

And it was a deserved strike for Grogan who caused no end of trouble for the visiting side.

Coming into the game without a home league win since September, Bray Wanderers made one change from Monday’s 2-0 loss away to Finn Harps. 

Midfielder Guillermo Almirall came in for Cole Omorehiomwan, while Athlone Town also made one swap as German Fuentes Rodriguez dropped out in place of Brian Torre. 

But it was Athlone who shaded the early exchanges as Dean Ebbe, Aaron Connolly and Daniel McKenna tested the Seagulls rearguard.

Although, Bray too had chances - with their best coming through striker Grogan. 

The Carlow man got on the end of an inviting Kieran Cruise cross into the box but could only divert his effort wide of goal. 

But the Seagulls did not have to wait too long to take the lead - and it came in a madcap few minutes for the visitors. 

Defender Dylan Hand - who was only returning from a ban - was dismissed for a petulant kick out at Grogan right under the nose of referee Chris Sheehan. 

And from the resulting free-kick on the edge of the box, Griffin beat Enda Minogue at his near post to find the back of the net for the hosts. 

Just four minutes later, Bray avoided a setback as Ebbe lifted the ball over the bar from a long ball. 

But Wanderers should have doubled their lead moments before the interval as Grogan rounded keeper Minogue before dragging his shot across the face of goal as the host led 1-0 at the break. 

Although, the hosts' wait for a second was not long and they killed off the game as a contest through defender Murphy. 

The Wexford native tapped into the net after Grogan’s acrobatic effort cannoned off the post following Conor Knight’s expert delivery into the box. 

And Knight - the younger brother of Ireland international - was central to Bray’s third moments later. 

The full-back’s pass breached the Athlone backline who tried to play an offside trap, and Grogan was on hand to coolly slot into the net. 

Ebbe was the visitors’ chief attacking threat throughout and did his best to reduce the deficit but could only loop his effort over the bar from a Brian Torre free-kick. 

But Athlone almost coughed up a fourth with just under 15 minutes of normal time to play, with captain Oisin Duffy doing well to deny the hosts with a last-ditch block on the line. 

Moments before his withdrawal, Guillermo Almirall arced an effort that just went over the top corner - but the Seagulls were home and hosed by then. 

And they will be keen to pounce on this victory as they visit basement side Longford Town next weekend at Bishopsgate. 

Athlone however will be smarting following their defeat, and the late injury sustained by keeper Minogue moments before injury time. 

Bray Wanderers:Stephen McGuinness; Killian Cantwell, Kieran Cruise (Rhys Knight 90), Conor Knight (Thomas Morgan 79), Paul Murphy, Evan Osam; Guillermo Almirall Peñalver (Zach Nolan 84), Shane Griffin, Harry Groome (Alain Kizenga 90), Freddie Turley; Peter Grogan.

Subs not used:Jamie Duggan, Callum Thompson, Daniel Chukwu, Zayd Abada, Ben Clarke.

Booked:Evan Osam (90).

Athlone Town:Enda Minogue (Andrew Trainor 89); Oisin Duffy (Roscoe Rubenstein 89), Dylan Hand, Jarlath Jones, Matthew Leal (Armado Oakley 46), Brian Torre; Aaron Connolly (Gideon Tetteh 77), Daniel McKenna, Carl Mujaguzi; Dean Ebbe, Jamal Ibrahim (Jamar Campion-Hinds 59).

Subs not used:Shane Forbes, Rúben Candal, Wedu Batlokwa, Divine Izekor.

Booked:Aaron Connolly (28).

Sent off:Dylan Hand (32).

Referee:Chris Sheehan.

Attendance:612. 

extratime.com Player of the Match: Peter Grogan (Bray Wanderers).