Bray Wanderers 1 - 1 Derry City

• Finbarr O'Sullivan
• Sat, Apr 18 2009


Bray Wanderers put in a fine second half performance to battle back from a goal down and earn a point against Derry City at the Carlisle Grounds. The Candystripes had taken the lead in the first half through Ciarán Martyn before the Seagulls levelled the scores in the second half with a Gary McCabe goal.

Despite Derry dominating the first half, it was Wanderers who had the first chance of the night after four minutes. McCabe picked up a loose ball in the City half and his powerful 35-yard strike forced Pat Jennings into a save.

The visitors went in front on 16 minutes through Martyn. Liam Kearney played the ball to the overlapping Stephen Gray down the left. He ran with the ball before crossing low into the centre for Martin, whose left foot directed the cross past Chris O'Connor and into the far corner.

Two minutes later, a one-two between Kearney and Barry Molloy saw the Derry winger fire a shot from the edge of the area. Unfortunately, his shot failed to trouble O'Connor and went wide of the far post.

The Candystripes should have doubled their lead on 28 minutes when Thomas Stewart nearly wrapped up a wonderful move. Gray's 40-yard cross-field ball found Gareth McGlynn on the right-hand side of the Bray box. He half-volleyed the ball in to Sammy Morrow at the near post. Morrow controlled but his path to goal was blocked so he passed the ball across the box to the in-rushing Stewart. Stewart slid in to reach the ball but his toe-poked effort went wide of the far post.

Bray's next chance came on 37 minutes. A Dane Massey cross from the left was headed goalwards by Paul Byrne. However, Byrne's flicked effort went wide of the Derry goal.

Four minutes later, Jennings was called into action once more. The Seagulls were awarded a free for the foul on Byrne and Massey's strike from 30-yards got up and over the wall but was too close to the Derry keeper.

In the second half, Bray came into the game, with the help of sub Patrick Kavanagh. Their first chance of the half came ten minutes in. Massey's corner curled to the far post where Dave Webster headed the ball against the crossbar. The ball dropped but was cleared by Derry before Bray could follow up.

On 69 minutes, Bray went close through McCabe. John Flood picked up the ball at the halfway line and, after going on a mazy run, he slipped the ball to McCabe on the edge of the box. McCabe took a touch before firing a right-footed shot across the face of goal and wide.

However, three minutes later, McCabe got the goal Bray's second half performance deserved. After a long ball forward for Kavanagh, Hutton intercepted the ball and knocked it out to the edge of the area. McCabe chested the ball down before cutting past his marker and shooting from the edge of the area once more. His shot wrong-footed Jennings and landed in the centre of the goal.

City had two chances to restore their lead in the last five minutes. After Massey fouled McGlynn on the right-hand side in the 85th minute, Morrow hooked the free kick across goal for Gray. Gray met the ball with his head six yards out but his effort went into the ground and bounced over the crossbar.

Two minutes later, sub Mark Farren's run and cross from the left found Stewart inside the box. After shifting the ball onto his right foot, his shot from 15-yards was blocked by Chris Deans.

In the end, both sides got a point for their efforts and both should be happy with the draw. Derry missed out on their chance to go top and will be in second place for another week, while Bray move temporarily up to seventh as Sligo Rovers play Bohemians on Saturday night.

Extratime.ie man of the match: Patrick Kavanagh - his introduction helped Bray get back into the game.

Attendance: 1200.

Bray Wanderers: O'Connor; Webster, Massey, Foran, Deans; Kelly (Kavanagh, 45), McCabe (Mulcahy, 90), Shields, Brennan; Flood (Mulroy, 85), Byrne.
Subs not used: Kane, O'Neill.
Bookings: McCabe (81), Massey (84).

Derry City: Jennings; McChrystal, Hutton, Gray, O'Brien; McGlynn, Kearney (Farren, 78), Martin (Higgins, 71), Molloy; Stewart, Morrow.
Subs not used: Ferry, McCallion, Scullion.
Bookings: Gray (14), Molloy (50).

Referee: Mark Gough (Limerick).