- Gareth Danaher
- Sat, Mar 16 2019
Gareth Danaher reports from the Carlisle Grounds
Bray Wanderers dropped points at the Carlisle Grounds on a rain-drenched Friday evening against Athlone Town.
Aaron Brilly scored the only goal of the game as the Seagulls lost their 100% record on a difficult night in front of their own fans.
It was all very even in the opening minutes as the ball was played around nicely by both teams in the middle of the pitch.
Bray had the opening chance of the game on the 16th minute as a corner was whipped in, it was initially cleared by the Athlone defence.
Paul Keegan kept it alive as he headed it back into the danger area to find Derek Daly who turned his defender and left him for dead, and he picked out Joe Doyle who fired his shot well over the bar.
Athlone struggled to have any chances in the first 20 minutes as Bray defended well against their strike force.
Bray right back Luke Nolan should have seen the home side go in front on the 22nd minute as Bray broke from inside their own half.
Doyle sprinted down the left channel and his crossed found Nolan in the area, but his late touch was fired over the bar from ten yards.
The home side were in control of the game and had all the chances, despite none of them being on target, but just past the half-hour they paid for the missed chances as Athlone went in front.
Darren Meenan laid a pass into Keelan Dillon, who played it to club captain Brilly, who slotted his effort into the bottom left corner of the goal beating Gabriel Sava.
The second half started as the first with both teams again having spells of possession in the middle of the park.
Phillip Gannon loked to get Bray back into the game on the hour mark as his volley from a corner swivelled narrowly wide.
Athlone defended in numbers for the final 15 minutes as Bray upped the anti to push for an equaliser.
Purdy’s free-kick just outside the area was well-saved by Aaron Myles in goal but it wasn’t over there as Barnett followed up for Bray, but he struck his effort right at Myles.
With the game coming to a close it looked likely Athlone would hold on for all three points.
Barnett’s corner for Bray proved to be the final straw for Bray as O’Halloran met it with a flicked header to just dip over the cross bar.
Athlone kept the ball well in possession in the dying seconds as they secured their third win of the season.
Bray Wanderers: Gabriel Sava; Luke Nolan (Jake Ellis 80), Dylan Barnett, Killian Cantwell, Sean Heaney, Paul Keegan, Dean O’Halloran, Philip Gannon, Joe Doyle, Dylan McGlade, Derek Daly (Richie Purdy 65).
Subs not used: Adam Hayden (gk), Hughie Douglas, Andrew McGovern, Luka Lovic, Brandon McCann.
Booked: Gabriel Sava, Luke Nolan.
Athlone Town: Aaron Myles; Evan White, Dean Casey, Gavin Kearney, Darren Meenan (Eoghan Morgan 82), Aaron Brilly, Dean Williams (Dean George 85), Keelan Dillon, Kaleem Simon, Llyod Buckley, Rhys Gorman (Shane Dunne 60)
Subs not used: Darcy Lawless (gk), Shane Stokes, Cian Byrne, Evan Pierce.
Booked: None.
Referee: Alan Patchell.
Attendance: 1,021 (official).
Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Aaron Brilly (Athlone Town).
