Bray Wanderers 2 - 1 UCD

Bray Wanderers celebrated their first win in four league outings as they came from behind to defeat UCD 2-1 at the Carlisle Grounds. In a thrilling second half of football, goals from Andy Myler and Patrick Kavanagh sealed the three points for the Seagulls. UCD had earlier taken the lead through an excellent Darren Meenan strike.

The first chance of note came after 19 minutes. UCD’s Conor Kenna created the chance for Darren Meenan when he lobbed the ball over the Bray defence from the halfway line. Meenan raced past Derek Pender and latched onto the ball before firing at Alan Gough once he got into the box. Gough got down well to save comfortably.

Wanderers felt they were denied a penalty in the 28th minute. Daryl Robson fed the ball out to Patrick Kavanagh on the right-hand side of the box. His cross-shot was blocked by the Students’ captain Conor Kenna, allegedly using his arm as the ball deflected into the arms of Matt Gregg.

UCD’s chance in the 41st minute summed up a poor first-half. After a succession of tackles on the edge of the Bray box, the ball broke for Fitzgerald inside the area. Unmarked, he collected the ball but his touch left him with a tight angle. His subsequent effort was blazed across the face of Gough’s goal and ended up going out for a Bray throw-in.

The second half sparked into life two minutes after the restart with a goal of the month contender from Darren Meenan. Good interplay between Meenan and Alan Mahon led to Meenan receiving the ball 25-yards from the Bray goal. The ball bounced up from his touch and he expertly volleyed the ball over Gough.

Bray lifted their game straight away and hauled themselves back into the game in the 68th minute through Patrick Kavanagh. Following a one-two between Cawley and Duggan, Duggan crossed from the left. His cross missed most of the players in the box but Kavanagh ran in unmarked at the far post to head the ball at goal. His effort beat Gregg and appeared to take a deflection before crossing the line.

In the 76th minute, Bray went close when Jake Kelly fired over from six yards out. A one-two between Kelly and Cronin on the left led to Cronin running into the corner before crossing into the box. Kelly made up a lot of ground to meet the cross but his sliding attempt sailed over.

Kelly again went close only two minutes later. Sub Colm Tresson passed infield to Andy Myler and Myler’s pass put Kelly through on goal with only Gregg to beat but his effort curled wide.

Bray’s pressure paid off in the 79th minute. Good work by Derek Pender down the right saw him beat his marker and then cross in from the goal-line. Andy Myler popped up at the near post to nod the ball past Gregg for his first Wanderers goal.

The game died down for the remainder of the game as UCD failed to get back into the game. Bray now move 12 points clear of the relegation zone with only nine games to go while UCD are still stuck in the battle for survival as they remain one point behind Finn Harps in ninth.

Bray Wanderers: Alan Gough; Derek Pender, Derek Foran, Gavin Whelan, Gary Cronin; Paddy Kavanagh, Alan Cawley, Daryl Robson (Colm Tresson 78), Mark Duggan; Ger Rowe (Andy Myler 62), Aidan O’Keefe (Jake Kelly 62).
Subs not used: Gabriel Sava, Gareth Coughlan.

Booked: Robson (45).

UCD: Matt Gregg; Alan Mahon, Alan McNally, Evan McMillan (Greg Bolger 80), Conor Kenna; Shane Fitzgerald, Brian King (Shane McFaul 80), Shane Duggan (John Reilly 80), Pat McWalter; Tim Purcell, Darren Meenan.
Subs not used: Billy Brennan, Brian Shortall.

Booked: Meenan (16), McMillan (50).

Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin).

Attendance: 750 (estimate)

Extratime Man of the Match: Derek Foran (Bray Wanderers).