Bray Wanderers 0 - 2 Galway United

• Simon O'Gorman
• Sat, May 01 2010


Stand-in ‘keeper Rhys Meynell kept a clean sheet at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday night as Galway United continued their good run and condemned Bray Wanderers to their eighth defeat of the season.

Any illusions Bray Wanderers might have had about turning their season around following last Monday’s win at Dundalk were dealt a heavy blow by Galway United, who once again benefited from the goal-scoring form of Anto Flood and Karl Sheppard. But, with full back Meynell standing in for suspended ‘keeper Barry Ryan, Bray will be bitterly disappointed not to have done better themselves in front of goal.

Bray’s feel good factor following their epic win against Dundalk lasted precisely eight minutes. That’s how long it took Galway to breach The Seagull’s defence and give themselves the perfect platform for a third win in five league games.

There seemed little danger as Flood received the ball wide on the left hand touchline from Gary Curran. He held the ball up, turned to face goal, and then curled an exquisite shot over Brian Kane and into the top right corner of the net.

It was no more than the Tribesmen deserved. They provided all the early pressure with Thomas Heary volleying over after just two minutes, and twin strikers Flood and Sheppard stalking a Bray defence that looked distinctly uncomfortable.

Shortly after the opening goal Sheppard tried to emulate Flood. Twenty yards from goal he hit a curling shot from distance that failed to curl but he didn’t have to wait long for another chance to come his way. On 18 minutes James Kavanagh lost possession to Flood in midfield and the striker advanced to the edge of the box before releasing Sheppard who finished coolly under Kane.

And it could have been three after 24 minutes when a poor clearance from Kane fell to Gary Curran some twenty yards out. His first time shot was headed off the line by Dane Massey.

With Meynell filling in as ‘keeper, the expectation was that Bray would make every effort to put him under pressure but it failed to happen. A 30 yard free kick from Webster and a deflected cross from David O’Neill that almost looped under the crossbar were all he had to deal with in a first half that Galway won comprehensively.

The second half was a far more hotly contested affair. Adam O’Connor replaced Pablo Rodriguez in the Bray front line and immediately added purpose to the home side’s play.

But it was Galway who almost struck again when Cian McBrien’s twenty five yard free kick almost put the game out of Bray’s reach. Kane tipped over superbly to keep the home side in it.

Sheppard also had a chance to finish things off after being slipped in by Flood who had broken from a Bray corner. His shot was smothered by the Bray defence and the subsequent corner came to nothing.

But it was Bray who applied the more consistent pressure through the second period. Ian Tuohy and Mark O’Brien came on for James Kavanagh and David Tyrrell after 59 minutes and their aggression and energy added hugely to the home side’s efforts.

Meynell was forced to head clear on the edge of his box and O’Neill almost scored for Bray when he twisted and turned inside the area before hooking a shot past the deputy ‘keeper. To Meynell’s relief a flailing Galway leg cleared for a corner.

The corner kicks came thick and fast for Bray as mounting pressure promised a breakthrough. O’Connor volleyed over, O’Neill twisted through before being pulled up for handball and Dane Massey smashed a ball in at the left hand post but was denied by the linesman’s flag.

With five minute to go it was Massey again who came close, his shot from wide on the right just clearing the crossbar. And then with just one minute to play, Adam O’Connor drove the ball past a startled Meynell and against the butt of his right hand post.

Four minutes were added on by the fourth official and the flurry of green shirts around the Galway penalty area continued. But Galway had drawn the sting of a Bray side that were just not destined to score.

Finally the whistle blew and while Wanderers find themselves back in the loser’s paddock, Galway can look back on nine points gathered from the last fifteen.

Bray Wanderers: Kane; S O’Connor, Massey, Tresson, Webster; Shields, O’Neill, Kavanagh (M O’Brien, 59), Tyrrell (Tuohy, 59); Rodriguez (A O’Connor, 46), Doyle.
Subs not used: Byrne, Donnelly

Galway United: Meynell; Conneely, Sinnott, Heary, McKenzie; Ryan (King, 93), Creaney, Curran, McBrien; Sheppard (Keane, 81), Flood.
Subs not used: Foley, Molloy, D O’Brien.

Bookings:Sheppard, Meynell (Galway Utd).

Extratime Man of the Match: Cian McBrien.

Referee: Rob Rogers.

Attendance: 350.