- Andrew Dempsey
- Fri, Jun 18 2021
Andrew Dempsey reports from the Carlisle Grounds
Bray Wanderers sealed an emphatic 4-0 win over UCD at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday evening with a dominant display.
Goals early in each half from Darren Craven and Conor Clifford sealed the three points for the hosts before Joe Doyle bagged his own brace to put the gloss on a big win for the Seagulls.
It has been far from the ideal season so far for Gary Cronin and his Bray Wanderers side. Sitting outside the playoff spots – and 13 points behind league leaders Shelbourne, their 2021 campaign has threatened to fall away before it could get started.
But this home clash against UCD gave them an opportunity to start putting it right against an Andy Myler side who went into the game eight points behind Shels.
And they opted to make one change with Luka Lovic coming in for Richie O’Farrell, but lively young forward Darragh Lynch continued to miss out with a long-term absence which has typified their injury woes this term.
UCD on the other hand made four swaps from their own disappointing defeat last weekend at home to Cobh Ramblers. Irish underage international Sean Brennan returned to the starting XI after he came on at half-time during last week’s loss at the Bowl.
However, despite threats of their season derailing, Bray started the better of the two teams – and took a sixth minute lead through Darren Craven.
The former Malahide United star scored his first ever goal in League of Ireland football as he pounced on Ryan Graydon’s drag-back to slam home past UCD keeper Lorcan Healy.
The Students continued to struggle in the first-half and may have found themselves even further behind halfway through the opening period. Some good play from Craven found Graydon at the back-post – but the ex-Bohs winger could only head wide.
Bray continued to dominate the chances and play as the half reached a conclusion – but they could double their advantage before the break, leading by a goal to nil.
UCD started the second-half brightly, creating opportunities by going a bit more direct, but they were caught napping in the 53rd minute as Craven was taken down by a stray UCD foot.
Conor Clifford scored his second from the spot in as many weeks – blasting home past Healy who had little chance to keep it out.
While Healy could not have done much about Clifford’s spot-kick, he probably should have with Bray’s third as Joe Doyle found the back of the net with a low shot.
The former Cabinteely forward picked up on a misplaced UCD pass and beat the College keeper at his near post – with the ball looking to have creeped under his palms.
Evan Osam then went close for the visitors who struggled for openings, but his header at the back stick went over the bar from Evan Weir’s corner-kick with just over twenty minutes to play.
Paul Doyle struck from distance shortly with a fizzing low shot – but it did not hit the target as Ireland under-21 keeper Maher watched it fly past the post.
UCD’s night went from bad to worse in second-half injury time as Doyle grabbed his second of the night, beating Healy to the ball at the edge of the box after some calamitous defending from the Students – and poked home to put the gloss on a great night for Cronin’s charges.
Bray Wanderers: Brian Maher; Dylan Barnett, Aaron Barry (c), Mark Byrne, Andrew Quinn; Conor Clifford, Darren Craven, Ryan Graydon (Dean O'Shea 90), Brandon Kavanagh (Richie O'Farrell 71), Luka Lovic (Steven Kinsella 76); Gary Shaw (Joe Doyle 45).
Subs not used: Sean Callan, Kian Clarke, Glen Hollywood, Cian Maher.
Booked: Darren Craven (86).
UCD: Lorcan Healy; Sam Todd (c), Evan Osam, Harvey O'Brien (Paul Doyle 60); Evan Weir, Dara Keane (Adam Lennon 60), Michael Gallagher (Eoin Farrell 67), Mark Dignam (Jack Keaney 60), Sean Brennan (Donal Higgins 77); Colm Whelan, Liam Kerrigan.
Subs not used: Carl Williams, Danu Kinsella Bishop, Luke Boore, Ciaran Behan.
Booked: Evan Osam (90) .
Referee: Jason Mannix
Attendance: 100
extratime.com Player of the Match: Darren Craven (Bray Wanderers)
