- Colman Stanley
- Fri, Feb 22 2019
Bray Wanderers enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win over Cabinteely at Stradbrook, as the Seagulls began their drive to gain promotion back to the Premier Division.
Despite being away from home and captain Seán Heaney being the only player returning from last year, Bray came to Stradbrook expecting to win.
It was a scrappy first-half with both sides suffering from a lack of finesse in the final quarter of the pitch.
Cabinteely started well but the visitors grew into the game and had the first shot on goal when Derek Daly found some space but shot wide form 20 yards.
Twenty minutes in Cabinteely nearly opened the scoring when their imposing centre back, Conor Keeley, had his header cleared off the line by Dylan Barnett from a corner delivery.
Bray enjoyed better possession and territory but Cabinteely had another good chance when Luke Clucas’ low free-kick forced Gabriel Sava to pull off an excellent save at his right hand post.
The best chance of the half came when Bray’s Joe Doyle beat goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness to a long ball over the top. The home support held their breath as they watched Doyle’s lobbed effort bounce a couple of feet wide.
The home side started brightly in the second half, and nearly scored when Keeley put a powerful header just wide of the right hand post from a corner. The number five for Cabinteely caused Bray numerous problems at the back throughout the match.
However, it was Keeley who committed the foul which allowed Dylan McGlade to slot home a penalty in the 63rd minute.
Minutes later Joe Doyle nearly found the net from a volley on the edge of the box before Dean O’Halloran slotted home from a cross.
Bray dominated the game entirely from then on with the home side consigned to a shot from Vilius Labutis which went straight at Sava, and a shot from substitute Alex Aspil whose effort deflected wide.
Bray put the game beyond all doubt when, in the 90th minute, Dylan McGlade, who was excellent all game down the right flank, slotted home his second with a neat finish past Stephen McGuinness.
Cabinteely: Stephen McGuinness, Eoin Massey, Conor Keeley, Keith Dalton, Jack Tuite, Vilius Labutis, Seán Hurley, Luke Clucas (Nika Kalandarisvili 69), Zak O’Neill (Alex Aspil 78), Kieran Marty Waters, Robert Manley (Oisín McMenamin 69).
Subs not used: Peter Quinlan, Jonny Carlin, Shane Barnes, Adam Maher.
Booked: Zak O’Neill (27), Robert Manley (59), Conor Keeley (64).
Bray Wanderers: Gabriel Sava, Kilian Cantwell, Seán Heaney, Dylan Barnett, Luke Nolan, Derek Daly, Paul Keegan, Philip Gannon (Luka Lovic 90+2), Dylan McGlade, Dean O’Halloran (Richie Purdy 84), Joe Doyle.
Subs not used: Adam Hayden, Hugh Douglas, Andrew McGovern, Brendan McCann, Jake Ellis.
Booked: Seán Heaney (35), Derek Daly (73).
Referee: Tomas Connolly.
ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Dylan McGlade.
