Bray Wanderers 1 - 1 Dundalk

Bray Wanderers got out of jail when second half sub Dave Webster fired home on 94 minutes to deny the Lilywhites the three points they so badly need.

Bray had dominated the majority of the game but a combination of the post and Peter Cherrie denied them until the defender struck in the fourth minute of added time. A scramble in the box saw the ball rebound out to Webster who kept his shot low and powerful and left Cherrie with no chance.

The visitors opened the scoring on 54 minutes when Lorcan Shannon came on and with his first touch of the game he released Marc Griffin on the right wing and the midfielder then played through Gary Shanahan who kept his shot low and rolled the ball under the advancing Quigley.

Both sides had the ball in the net in the first half, Dundalk saw an effort ruled out for offside when  Marc Griffin sent in a set-piece and Paul Whelan had drifted offside to head into the net, but the Bray defence held their line.

The Seagulls went down the field and John Mulroy hit a shot which was blocked but deflected into the path of Byrne whose follow up shot beat Cherrie but he was standing in an offside position.

The best of Dundalk’s efforts came from set-pieces while Bray were more direct with their balls and as the clock ticked down the more dangerous came their chances, Danny O'Connor almost levelled matters on 74 minutes. A pin-point corner was directed by the Bray captain toward goal only for Lorcan Shannon to clear the ball off the line.

Three minutes later Kieran Marty Waters saw his effort hit the post, although Cherrie got the slightest of touches, the midfielder beat three Dundalk defenders on the edge of the box and fired in a low shot only to see it come right back at him.

There was no doubting Cherrie’s involvement in the next save however, John Mulroy powered into the box and fired a shot from ten yards out which saw the keeper at full stretch.

However the Lilywhites will be disappointed not to hold on, but a draw seemed the fairest result.

Bray Wanderers: Darren Quigley; Shane O’Connor, Adam Mitchell, Danny O’Connor, Dane Massey; Adam Hanlon (Dean Marshall 64), John Mulroy (Ismahil Akinade 83), Kevin O’Connor, Sean Houston (Dave Webster 75), Kieran Marty Waters; Jason Byrne.
Subs Not Used: Brian Kane, Daire Doyle, Lee Dixon, Dean Zambra.

Booked: K O’Connor (80), J Byrne (87).

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; John Mountney (Stephen McDonnell 70), Derek Foran, Paul Whelan, Eoghan Osborne; Paul Walsh (Lorcan Shannon 53), Chris Shields, Mark O’Brien, Gary Shanahan; Michael Rafter (William Woods 83), Marc Griffin.
Subs Not Used: Finian Farrelly, Nathan Murphy, Chris Reilly, Bob McKenna,

Booked: Walsh (18), Shields (71).

Referee: Derek Tomney.

Attendance: 400 (est)