Report: Bray Wanderers 0 - 2 Bohemians

Bohemians returned to action in the eircom League with a comfortable win over Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds. The game ended 2-0 with Jason McGuiness and Glen Crowe getting the goals.

The first chance of note fell to Bohs’ Thomas Heary on nine minutes. Glen Crowe crossed to Heary at the edge of the area and the midfielder chested the ball down before volleying over. Bray’s first chance came on 23 minutes when Paddy Kavanagh chipped the ball in from the right for new loan-signing Aidan O’Keefe. The forward controlled nicely before lobbing over the bar from just outside the box.

Bohs took the lead on 28 minutes. Stephen O’Donnell’s corner went straight over to the far post where Jason McGuiness headed the ball at goal. His effort was blocked but McGuiness drove the ball between Alan Gough’s legs to give Bohs the lead.

Eight minutes later, the two Hearys combined down the right. Owen played the ball down the wing for Thomas and he ran to the goal-line before striking at goal. Gough tipped the ball across goal and Bray cleared the ball to safety.

Bohs doubled the lead with their first chance of the second half. In the 54th minute, Ronan Ivory was penalised for a foul on Harpal Singh. Neale Fenn curled the free low into the box from 25-yards and Glen Crowe arrived at the penalty spot to side-foot the ball into the bottom left corner.

In the 60th minute, a long ball from Bohs caused confusion in the Bray defence. Under pressure from Crowe, Gough headed the ball clear from the edge of the area. Unfortunately, his clearance fell straight to Singh but with the Bray keeper off the line, he couldn’t find the finish and his lob went well wide.

The Seagulls had to wait until the 67th minute for their next chance. Ger Rowe collected the ball in midfield and ran across the park with Bohs defenders chasing him. A smart pass into the box set winger Gareth Coughlan through on goal but his shot was well saved by the feet of Brian Murphy in the Bohs goal.

The Gypsies nearly added a third in the 73rd minute through Glen Crowe. Anto Murphy’s cross from the right was met by Kevin Doherty. His clearance only went as far as Thomas Heary on the edge of the box. He headed the ball back into the box for Crowe who volleyed the ball at goal, only to be denied by a strong save from Alan Gough.

Bray nearly pulled one back after 80 minutes. Once again it was sub Coughlan with the attempt. He struck a free from 25-yards straight at goal, forcing keeper Murphy into a smart save.

Bohemian now move to within a point of St. Patrick’s Athletic at the top of the table and the Gypsies have two games in hand. They now travel to Derry City on Friday night in a match that could see them go top. Meanwhile, Bray have now lost four games in a row and have failed to score in those four as well. They host Galway United on Friday night in a crucial match in the bottom end.

Bray Wanderers: Alan Gough; Ronan Ivory, Kevin Doherty, Derek Foran (Ray Kenny ‘62), Gary Cronin; Paddy Kavanagh, Dane Massey (Gareth Coughlan ‘55), Gavin Whelan, Derek Pender; Aidan O'Keefe (Shane O‘Neill ‘82), Ger Rowe.
Subs not used: Brian Kane, Mark Duggan.

Booked: Massey (12), Pender (13), Doherty (86).

Bohemian: Brian Murphy; Owen Heary, Liam Burns, Jason McGuiness, Conor Powell; Anto Murphy, Thomas Heary (Kevin Hunt ‘81), Stephen O‘Donnell, Harpal Singh; Glen Crowe, Neale Fenn.
Subs not used: Chris Konopka, Brian McCarthy, Sean Byrne, Paddy Madden.

Booked: T Heary (5).

Referee: Hugo Whorisky (Dublin).

Attendance: 1,200 (estimate)

Extratime Man of the Match: Stephen O’Donnell (Bohemians).