- Gareth O'Reilly
- Fri, Apr 18 2014
BRAY Wanderers will feel that it was two points dropped rather than a point gained as they huffed and puffed but failed to blow Derry City down. In the end chances from Ismahil Akinade and Graham Kelly were not converted as the Seagulls secured their ninth league point of the 2014 SSE Airtricity League season.
The first chance of the game came in the form of a Graham Kelly free kick as he smashed a shot through the Derry City wall forcing Gerard Doherty to tip the ball wide.
Bray went oh so close to going in front as a Graham Kelly corner caused all kinds of problem for Derry at the back and it was Ismahil Akinade who got the last touch that sent Doherty sprawling across his line to save just as the ball seemed destined to cross the line.
Akinade had a second chance to get himself on the score sheet just minutes later as a horrible back pass from Cliff Byrne left Doherty in no mans land but Akinade took a heavy first touch allowing Doherty to scramble a clearance much to the relief of Derry's travelling support.
It was a first half that was all about the home side as Cassidy and Scully combined to create a good chance for the Seagulls but like a lot of Bray's play in the opening period it lacked the crucial final touch.
Finally after 35 minutes Derry did register a shot as Aaron Barry crept in at the back post to head wide from a Danny Ventre corner.
Then with just five minutes to go Derry almost lead to their own downfall as Danny Ventre first gave the ball away on the edge of the box then as he charged out he handled the ball as Akinade delivered the ball back into the box.
Graham Kelly was the man that stepped up but the young Bray Wanderers player smashed his spot kick off the crossbar with the ball rebounding to Cassidy on the edge of the box who could only blast the ball out of play.
Derry failed to start the second half with any sort of renewed energy as their players began to let their frustration boil over with Cliff Byrne picking up the games first yellow card in the process.
Graham Kelly really was wondering how he had not put his side in front on the hour mark when he latched onto a David Scully through ball but Kelly could only pull his shot wide on his weaker left foot.
Shane O'Neill then became the latest Bray player to test Doherty as a powerful ball across the box from David Cassidy was met with a cheeky back heel by O'Neill but Doherty found himself in the right place at the right time to make the crucial save.
Gerard Doherty was putting in a solid claim for the man of the match award as he once again had to be at his best to punch Ismahil Akinade's shot over the bar.
With the clock approaching the 90th minute Graham Kelly once again floated in a delightful corner kick that was met by the head of David Scully but the midfielder could not keep it down as it went inches over the head of Gerard Doherty.
Michael Duffy then created the best chance of the second half as he turned Dave Webster inside out before forcing Stephen McGuinness into a fantastic save.
That was all that was left in this game as Bray Wanderers failed to capitalise on having the better of the chances and the possession as Roddy Collins saw his Derry City side escape the Carlisle Grounds with a point.
Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness; Robert Maloney, Dave Webster, Adam Mitchell, Niall Cooney; Dean Zambra, Graham Kelly, Shane O'Neill (Adam Hanlon 82), David Cassidy; David Scully, Ismahil Akinade.
Subs Not Used: Shane Redmond (gk), Michael Brown, Jamie McGlynn, Gary Curran, Eric McGill, Ciaran Byrne.
Booked: Adam Mitchell (58), Shane O'Neill (74).
Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Roddy Collins, Cliff Byrne, Aaron Barry, Dean Jarvis; Patrick McEleney (Shane McEleney 32), Danny Ventre, Mark Stewart (John Paul McGovern 61), Enda Curran (Tony McNamee 72), Michael Duffy; Rory Patterson.
Subs Not Used: Ciaran Gallagher (gk), Raymond Foy, Ryan Curran, Dave Elebert.
Booked: Cliff Byrne (55)
Referee: Iwan Griffith
Attendance: 750 (estimate)
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Ger Doherty (Derry City)
