Bohemians 2 - 1 Bray Wanderers

• Brendan Graham
• Sun, Sep 04 2011




Bohemians claimed all three points in a hard worked 2-0 win over a resilient Bray side at Dalymount Park on Saturday night.

It was a very slow start from both sides as they returned to league duties with very few talking points or chances coming in the opening half. The home side had most of the early possession but the end product was lacking as they searched for the opening goal of the game.

The first real chance of the game came through Killian Brennan after plenty of pressure from the home side. Brennan powered a long range shot towards goal after the ball was knocked down to him by Bray defender Dave Webster who was attempting to clear a corner. Brennan caught the ball well but it was always rising and just cleared the keeper’s crossbar.

The first of Brays few chances came around 15 minutes into the game as the lively Shane O’Neill collected the ball in midfield and set off towards goal. The Bray striker showed good vision to spot Craig Sexton off his line and tried to catch him out with a cheeky lob but Sexton got back in good time and caught the ball comfortably.

This was to be the first of only two real chances for the visitors in the first half as Killian Brennan began finding more space for Bohemians. They finished off the half strongly with Mark Rossiter and Aidan Downes both going close before half time, Rossiter with an ambitious effort from 20 yards out which drifted well wide, and Downes latching on to a through ball only to curl it just inches past the post.

The second half began much the same way as the first had finished with Bray defending strongly and Bohs asking all the questions, and the deadlock was finally broken ten minutes into the second half. Once again Killian Brennan played a key role in the build up as he dribbled the ball down the wing before cutting inside the defender and squaring the ball for the unmarked Anto Flood to tap the ball into the net with Quigley unable to do a thing.

It had been coming for a long time and their hard work had paid off as their confidence grew and they searched for a second. Bray were defending bravely but just could not get any sort of command of the midfield area, resulting in very little service for their front two.

The impressive Killian Brennan almost doubled the lead with a powerful effort from about 20 yards out but Darren Quigley watched it all the way and made a great save, tipping the ball over the bar and out for a corner.

Bohs eventually got their second of the evening after lovely link up play between the front two of Downes and Flood. Flood cut inside and headed for goal before playing a short ball to Downes who turned his man quickly and blasted the ball past Quigley leaving him rooted to the spot.

With a two goal cushion and the three points looking safe and secure the home side began to sit back a bit, allowing Bray to come at them. And that’s exactly what they did as they looked to get back into the game. Zambra and Kelly both went close with good efforts before Dave Webster guided a header in at the back post following a Zambra corner.

Conor Murphy was brought on soon after the goal as Bray looked to snatch a draw at the death. They had one or two minor chances in the final few seconds but it was Bohs who saw out the game and left Dalymount with all three points.

Bohemians: Craig Sexton; Owen Heary, Ollie Cahill (Keith Buckley 25), Aidan Price, Ger O’Brien; Mark Rossiter, Glenn Cronin, Stephen Hurley (Robert Bayly 65), Killian Brennan; Anto Flood, Aidan Downes,
Subs not used: Gary Burke, Chris Forrester, Roberto Lopes, Kevin Feely, Dean Brady.

Bookings: S Hurley (42), A Downes (78).

Bray Wanderers: Darren Quigley; David Webster, Kevin Knight, Shane O’Connor, Derek Prendergast; Daire Doyle, Graham Kelly, Dean Zambra, Jake Kelly (Dan McGuinness 65); Shane O’Neill (Conor Murphy 80), John Mulroy (Gary Shaw 75).
Subs not used: Stephen Brennan, Conor Butler, Sean Houston, Brian Kane.

Bookings: D Prendergast (44), D Webster (81).

Referee: Padraigh Sutton.
Attendance: 1,100 (estimate).
extratime.ie Man of the Match: Killian Brennan.