- Stuart Connolly
- Sat, Apr 16 2016
Finn Harps secured a slender one goal victory over Bray Wanderers on Friday night as Dave Scully struck to wrap up all three points against his former employers.
Ollie Horgan was forced into one change for this game against the Seagulls, the injured Ethan Boyle was replaced in the starting line up by Adam Hanlon who himself is returning from injury.
Bray Manager Mick Cooke made two changes with Ger Pender and Paul Finnegan coming in for Dean Kelly and Alan McNally.
Finn Harps got off to the kind of start they needed after two straight defeats, with David Scully scoring against his former side after a well worked counter attack, just after Bray felt they were denied a penalty.
The home side almost doubled their lead on fourteen minutes after a long range shot from Adam Hanlon was deflected just over the bar.
With twenty minutes played the home side deserved the lead but as the half wore on Bray began to pressurize more.
Damien McNulty was the first player to go into the book after a mistimed challenge on Connolly.
There was a lengthy delay on the half hour mark with Paul Finnegan down injured and he was unfortunately stretchered off, and replaced by Alan Byrne.
Bray began to curse their luck with injuries after Alan Bryne limped off the field not long after coming on, with Jason Marks taking his place on the playing field.
Bray began the second half as they ended the first, putting Brush under pressure but despite a number of lofted balls, none seemed to be in any real danger of finding the back of the net.
Bray then forced the referee to brandish his yellow card twice within a few minutes of each other, with Jason Marks and Sean Harding both receiving bookings.
As the second half was reaching its half way point both teams looked likely to score, but both defences held up well under constant pressure.
With very little time left and the game seemingly heading for a home victory, Bray suddenly found a burst of energy and attacked at pace only for some experienced Harps defending to put an end to that attempt.
A win for Harps in the end although speaking after the game goalscorer Dave Scully admitted that his side were nowhere near their best on the night.
"Yeah it was a disappointing for them tonight, it was an awful game on our behalf, we apologize for that, but they are happy enough we got the 3 points. We played well against Pats, we put on a good show and we got nothing out of it.”
Finn Harps: Richard Brush; Damien McNulty, Keith Cowan, Ciaran Coll, Packie Mailey; Gareth Harkin(Matthew Crossan 86), Tony McNamee, Sean Houston, Adam Hanlon(Raymond Foy 67); Ryan Curran, David Scully(Michael Funston 80).
Subs not used: Ciaran Gallagher, Kevin McHugh, Ryan McConnell, Liam Flatley.
Yellow Cards: Damien McNulty (39)
Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Hugh Douglas, Conor Kenna, Sean Harding, Paul Finnegan (Alan Byrne 35)(Jason Marks 45); Robbie Creevy, Ryan Brennan, Karl Moore, Dylan Connolly(Gareth McDonagh 77); Ger Pender, Andrew Lewis.
Subs Not used: Aaron Shannaghan, Curtis Murphy, Daniel Blackbyrne, Sean Noble.
Yellow Cards: Sean Harding (66), Jason Marks (69), Andrew Lewis (90)
Referee: Ray Matthews
Attendance: 850 (est.)
ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Sean Houston (Finn Harps)
