Bray Wanderers 4 - 0 UCD

A Sean Houston hat-trick powered Bray Wanderers to an emphatic 4-0 win over UCD at the Carlisle Grounds on Wednesday night.

In what was, technically speaking, a meaningless Premier Division game both sides contributed to an entertaining affair despite the lopsided scoreline. Bray made the early running and it took just eight minutes for Pat Devlin’s men to take the lead. Chris Shields played a smart ball into the left channel for Jake Kelly and his pull back into the box was side-footed into the roof of the Student’s net from 15 yards by Sean Houston.

Gradually UCD awakened and began to play their part in a game that was full of slick passing and good movement off the ball. On 17 minutes Stephen Doyle met a Darren Meenan free kick on the edge of Bray’s six yard box and Darren Quigley was forced to tip his header acrobatically over the bar.

As the half continued it was the home side who created the vast majority of the attacking play but on the stroke of half time Paul Corry played a neat one-two on the edge of the Bray box and his low
shot cracked off the butt of Quigley’s right hand post before rebounding to safety.

The second half belonged to Bray and after Shane O’Neill had curled an effort narrowly wide in the opening minute, they added a second on 48 minutes. Gary Dempsey delivered a in swinging corner from the left and Houston got the slightest of touches to glance the ball in at the back post.

On 57 minutes Bray might have had a third when full back Dane Massey charged towards the UCD area, laid off a pass to Houston, and collected the delicately chipped return on his chest. As the ball
dropped he chipped the out-rushing Ger Barron but his effort just cleared the crossbar. It also looked as if he had valid claims for a penalty when he appeared to be cleaned out by Barron after the ball had gone.

But one minute later Bray had the third they deserved when a Gary Dempsey ball played Houston through and the former Finn Harps and UCD man picked his spot before tucking an excellent finish around Barron and into the Student’s net.

On 66 minutes Bray removed all doubt about where the points were going with a cruel fourth. Substitute John Mulroy and Dean Zambra combined to play in Jake Kelly and the winger finished convincingly past Barron.

UCD could have been forgiven for wilting under such demoralising circumstances but they continued to play their particular brand of passing football and they pressed forward looking for some consolation, ensuring in the process that the contest remained eminently watchable.

Graham Rusk deserved a better outcome on 79 minutes when his snap shot on the volley dipped over its 25 yard trajectory to barely clear the Bray crossbar with Darren Quigley beaten.

In the end there was no arguing with the score-line but Martin Russell will no doubt feel that his young side didn’t get due reward for their part in contest that rose above its uninspiring context.


Bray Wanderers: Darren Quigley; Shane O’Connor, Derek Prendergast, Adam Mitchell, Dane Massey; Dean Zambra, Gary Dempsey (Graham Kelly, 74), Chris Shields, Jake Kelly (Conor Butler, 84); Shane O’Neill (John Mulroy, 48), Sean Houston.
Subs not used: Brian Kane, Danny McGuinness, Gary Shaw, Conor Murphy.

Bookings: None.

UCD: Ger Barron; Paul O’Conor, Mick Leahy, David O’Connor, Daniel Ledwith (Tomas Boyle, 61); Dean Marshall (Chris Lyons, 61), Robbie Creevy, Paul Corry (Barry McCabe, 69), Stephen Doyle, Darren Meenan; Graham Rusk.
Subs not used: Mark McGinley, Craig Mooney, Dean Clarke, Samir Belhout.

Bookings: None.

Referee: Dave McKeon.
Attendance: 250 (estimate).

extratime.ie Man of the Match: Sean Houston.