Bray Wanderers 0 - 2 Cork City

• Finbarr O'Sullivan
• Sat, May 23 2009


Cork City easily dispatched of Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds tonight with a 2-0 win that keeps them three points clear of Bohemians at the top of the table. Denis Behan and Colin Healy were the scorers for the Rebels.

Cork made the first opening on 20 minutes when Cillian Lordan played the ball out wide to Guntars Silagalis. Silagalis advanced down the right before cutting into the box and drawing Chris O'Connor but instead of going for glory, Silagalis pulled the ball back for a team-mate. Luckily for the hosts, Derek Foran got back to intercept and put the ball behind.

From the resulting corner, City should have gone ahead. Healy's ball went straight across goal and landed at the feet of Behan at the far post. The forward went for power instead of accuracy and his effort flew wide when it seemed it easier to score.

In the 22nd minute, Bray had their first chance. Patrick Kavanagh received the ball from Paul Byrne on the edge of the area and after turning Greg O'Halloran, he shot from 18 yards but his shot was wide of Dan Connor's left-hand post.

A minute later, Joe Gamble played the ball into Behan. Behan took the ball into the box before firing low across O'Connor but the Wanderers keeper was able to get down and gather the ball.

Cork took the lead in the 35th minute with a well-worked free-kick routine. Behan tapped the ball to Gamble who stood on it. Danny Murphy went to shoot but ran over the ball and Gamble passed it out right to Behan. Behan controlled before firing into the bottom right corner from 30 yards.

With only three minutes one in the second half, Fahrudin Kuduzovic had a chance for the Rebels. Kuduzovic collected the ball in the Bray midfield and advanced on goal before firing a powerful shot wide of O'Connor's goal.

Two minutes later, Kuduzovic went even closer. This time he was picked out by a perfect cross-field ball by Healy. Kuduzovic hit the ball first time on the volley from the left-hand side of the box and his drive forced the Seagulls keeper to tip the ball around the post.

The visitors' fine start to the second half paid off in the 54th minute when Healy got himself on the score-sheet. Saligalis played the ball in behind the Bray back line. Healy was able to sprint clear of any defenders and collect the ball before rounding O'Connor and coolly slotting the ball home.

The next opportunity fell to City's Behan. The forward picked up a long ball and turned away from his marker before shooting from the edge of the area and forcing O'Connor into another save.

Cork had controlled the game but they eased up after establishing a two-goal lead. The only other chance of the night fell to Bray in injury time when Foran's long ball picked out Jake Kelly and the substitute ran clear of the Cork defence. Although through on the Cork goal, he couldn't find a finish and his strike ballooned over.

The hosts were no match for their counterparts and Cork were full value for the three points. Up next for the Leesiders is a top of the table clash with champions Bohs while Bray travel to take on St. Patrick's Athletic.

Extratime.ie man of the match: Denis Behan - the City striker looked dangerous every time he got near the ball and his mix of pace and strength terrorised the Bray defence all night.

Attendance: 900 (estimate)

Bray Wanderers: Chris O'Connor; Webster, Massey, Foran, Deans (O'Neill, 66); Kavanagh, Shields, Doyle (Mulroy, 45), Brennan, Mulcahy; Byrne (Kelly, 89). Subs not used: Kane, Forsyth. Bookings: None.

Cork City: Connor; Sullivan, Murphy, Murray, O'Halloran; Silagalis, Gamble (Dennehy, 70), Lordan, Kuduzovic, Healy; Behan (Kiely, 82). Subs not used: McNulty, Alan O'Connor, Long. Bookings: None.

Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin).