Shamrock Rovers 3 - 1 Bray Wanderers

• Frankie Lally
• Sun, Sep 20 2009


Shamrock Rovers cut Bohemians lead at the top of the table to a single point as they defeated Bray Wanderers 3-1 at Tallaght Stadium thanks to a goal from Stephen Rice and two from Gary Twigg.

A huge shock looked to be on the cards for 45 minutes of this contest as Bray took the lead in the 16th minute thanks to a goal from Dave Webster. A Dane Massey corner was flicked on at the front post by John Flood and Gareth Coughlan was first to react but his header was cleared off the line by Rovers' Barry Johnston. The ball then fell kindly to Webster who rifled home the ball to make it 1-0 to the Seagulls.

As a stunned silence fell over Tallaght Stadium, Rovers went in search of a quick response. They almost found it too on 27 minutes, when Padraig Amond saw his spectacular bicycle-kick go only inches wide of Chris O'Connor's post.

Rovers kept pushing for an equaliser and should have had one in the 27th minute. A Ross Chisholm corner was spilled by Bray keeper O'Connor and landed right at the feet of Gary Twigg, who shot first time but the ball was blocked off the line by Massey.

Derek Pender cleared another ball off the line moments later as Amond nearly got in following a back-heel from Twigg.

However, despite Rovers' dominance Bray did have chances and could have doubled their lead on the stroke of half time. A Gary McCabe corner wasn't dealt with by the Rovers' defence but when the ball fell kindly for Pender he but the ball over the bar.

Micheal O'Neil responded to his team’s first half performance by replacing Amond with Dessie Baker at half time and bringing on Sean O'Connor ten minutes later for Chisholm.

The introduction of O'Connor had an immediate impact. Stephen Rice levelled matters in the 55 minute thanks to a cross from O'Connor which found Rice unmarked at the back post.

The equaliser seemed to really take it out of Bray and from then on in it was always going to be tough for Eddie Gormley's men.

Gary Twigg scored his 20th league goal of the season and Rovers second on the night just 11 minutes later, to kill the game off. He powered home a Sean O'Connor cross after Chris Deans failed to fully clear with a header.

Twigg then sealed the game for Rovers five minutes later with another well taken goal. Sean O'Connor was yet again involved as he headed Stephen Bradley's corner back across the face of the goal towards Twigg who left Chris O'Connor with no chance as he volleyed home from six yards.

Shamrock Rovers: Mannus; Treacy, Sullivan, Price, Cahill, Johnston, Rice, Chisholm, (O'Connor '54) Bradley, (Barrett '84) Twigg, Amond (Baker H/T)
Substitutes not used: Murphy, Flynn

Bray Wanderers: O'Connor; Pender, Cronin, (Kelly '77) Webster, Deans, Brennan, Massey, Doyle, Coughlan, (Mulroy '59) Flood, McCabe (O'Neil '81)
Substitutes not used: Reyes, Kane
Booked: Massey, Doyle

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Shamrock Rover's Sean O'Connor. After his introduction in the 54th minute he was instrumental in everything Rovers did. He was involved in all three of Rovers goals and certainly changed the game around for the Hoops.

Referee: T Connolly (Dublin)

Attendance: 3000 (est)