- Sam McKeever
- Sat, May 27 2017
Sligo Rovers and Bray Wanderers played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday evening.
The game got off to a flyer as Bray hit the front after just 5 minutes when a Derek Pender pass found Aaron Greene in the box and he put it past Michael Schlingermann in the Sligo goal to give the Seasiders the lead.
However, the home side’s lead lasted just five minutes as from a Lee Martin corner from the left and Mick Leahy got free in the box to jump highest to draw the Bit O’Red level.
Four minutes later Bray restored their lead as a cross from the right from Ryan Brennan at the by-line was brilliantly pulled back to Dylan Connolly who side-footed the ball past the Sligo goalkeeper making it 2-1 Bray inside the opening fifteen minutes.
Sligo then had a penalty appeal waved away when Kieran Sadlier went down in the box soon after as referee Paul McLaughlin ignored the protests.
Just before the break Kevin Lynch put a ball deep into the box which Schlngermann struggled to deal with and the ball was headed back across goal by Aaron Greene but his effort just sailed past to post.
The Bit O’ Red had the first real chance of the 2nd half in the 50th minute as a ball was played over the top by Tobi Adebayo-Rowling to put Jonah Ayunga through but he could not pull the trigger quick enough and Tim Clancy managed to get a vital block in.
The Seasiders has the next big chance moments later as Tobi Adebayo slipped letting in Ger Pender but he could not punish the mistake as his attempt to lob the goalkeeper went straight into Peter Cherries hands.
Sligo’s Jonah Ayunga wasted another good chance just shy of the hour mark as a cross field ball was played to him by Regan Donelon, Ayunga took it down well but blazed his shot over the bar not troubling the Bray goalkeeper.
The Bit O’ Red then made it 2-2 in the 62nd minute the move started off with Kyle Place playing the ball down the left to Kieran Sadlier who dinked it brilliantly to the back post with Raffaelo Cretaro heading it back across the box to Mick Leahy to nod home inside the six-yard box.
Ryan Brennan then went close to making it 3-2 for Bray from a Kevin Lynch corner in the 74th minute rising highest to get the ball but his header was brilliantly saved by Peter Cherrie in the Sligo goal.
Kieran Sadlier then pounced on a mistake from Keith Buckley around the Bray box as the game headed towards it’s concluding chapter, he turned Buckley but the finish just went wide past the post.
Jonah Ayunga then tried an ambitious attempt from 25 yards with his left foot cutting inside leaving him plenty of space but his shot was saved well by Peter Cherrie in the Bray goal.
Aaron Greene could have won it for the Seasiders in the 89th minute as a ball from Jason Marks on the left hand's side was met by him but Cherrie pulled off a brilliant reaction save to keep the scores level at two goals apiece.
The result will disappoint Harry Kenny as his side led twice only to be pegged back on both occasion. For Sligo, it may well prove to be a vital point in their attempts to move up the table.
Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Keith Buckley, Conor Kenna, Tim Clancy, Kevin Lynch (Jason Marks,78); Aaron Green, John Sullivan, Ryan Brennan, Mark Salmon; Dylan Connolly, Ger Pende
Subs not used: Lee Stacey, Hugh Douglas, Karl Moore, Jamie Ahern, Conor Early, Derek Foran
Bookings: Dylan Connolly (77) John Sullivan (87)
Sligo Rovers: Michael Schlingermann; Tobi Rowling, Reagan Donelon, Mick Leahy, Kyle Mcfadden; Craig Rodden, Raffaele Cretaro, Kieran Sadiler, Gary Boylan; Jonah Ayunga, Liam Martin (Mikey Place,40)
Subs Not Used: Seamus Sharkey, Chris Kenny, Shaun Patton, Mark Hannon, Martin Walsh
Bookings: Mikey Place (50) Kyle McFadden (53)
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Ryan Brennan (Bray Wanderers)
