Bray Wanderers 4 - 0 Galway United

• Seamus Egan
• Fri, Aug 12 2011




Bray Wanderers hammered Galway United 4-0 at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday night to condemn the Tribesmen to their 20th successive league defeat. Goals from Jake Kelly, Danny O'Connor, Shane O'Neill and Derek Prendergrast gave the home side their second win in eight.

Sean Connor's side got off to the worst possible start. Defender Laurence Gaughan saw red after only two minutes. Gaughan was sent off for a reckless tackle on Shane O'Connor. He lunged into the Bray right back with both feet and referee Anthony Buttimer produced the red card straight card away. Paul Sinnott of Galway was lucky not be at least booked in the 5th minute after he threw the ball at Shane O'Neill.

Pat Devlin's side took the lead in the 12th minute. It was a very well worked goal by Bray. Chris Shields played it to Dean Zambra on the right. Zambra crossed, and Conor Winn could only parry it out to Jake Kelly, who couldn't miss from six yards out.

The home side should have gone two up in the 20th minute. Shane O'Connor put in a brilliant cross from the right, which found Zambra six yards out at the back post. The Bray midfielder somehow volleyed wide when it seemed easier to score.

Galway failed to have a shot on goal in the first half. Indeed it was the Wicklow club who produced the next chance in the 40th minute. Bray captain Danny O'Connor found Chris Shields with a precise cross. Shields was too casual and for some reason tried to back heel the ball towards goal.

The visitors had their best period of the game in the early part of the second half. They had a great chance to level in the 50th minute. Jin Lu Kim played in Victor Collins who was through one on one with Darren Quigley. Collins advanced and tried to knock it past Quigley, but the Bray goalkeeper spread himself to make a great save.

The visitors were made to rue that miss soon after. In the 57th minute, the ball broke to Jake Kelly on the left hand side from a throw in. Kelly picked out the advancing and unmarked O'Connor in the United area about ten yards out. The Bray captain headed brilliantly past Winn in the visitors goal.

Pat Devlin's side went three up in the 68th minute. Substitute Kieran Waters played it back to the advancing Shane O'Neill, who finished excellently from the edge of the area . Winn had no chance in the Galway goal.

Galway's misery was completed in the 85th minute. Kevin Knight took a quick short corner. Dean Zambra played it to the back post. Derek Prendergrast rose unmarked to head it home. It was very poor defending once again by Galway.

John Mulroy was denied soon after by Winn. The game petered out after that. Galway's miserable season continues, while Bray managed to regain some momentum following their recent poor run of form.

Bray Wanderers: Darren Quigley; Shane O'Connor, Sean Houston, Adam Mitchell (Kieran Waters 60), Derek Prendergrast; Graham Kelly, Dean Zambra, Danny O'Connor (Kevin Knight 70), Jake Kelly (John Mulroy 80); Chris Shields, Shane O'Neill.
Subs Not Used: Daire Doyle, Dane Massey, Conor Murphy, Brian Kane.

Bookings: None.

Galway United: Conor Winn; Evan Preston Kelly, Laurence Gaughan, Eric Brown (Mikey Gilmore 60), Eric Holland; Jin Gu Kim, Gary Kelly, Paul Sinnott, Stephen Walsh (Ronan Caldwell 83); Alan Murphy, Victor Collins (Eduardo Dusi 60).
Subs Not Used: Oscar Sibianda, Ger Cheevers.
Bookings: Gary Kelly (94).
Sent off: Laurence Gaughan (2).

Referee: Anthony Buttimer.
Attendance: 400 estimate.
Extratime.ie Man of the match: Jake Kelly (Bray Wanderers).