- Rory Morrow
- Mon, May 06 2024
Shane Griffin’s goal before the break ensured Bray Wanderers beat Finn Harps in a result that saw the Seagulls soar into third in the table.
Friday night was a tale of opposites for these two clubs, entering this bank holiday round.
Whilst Bray were reeling from seeing their four-game winning streak snapped by Cobh Ramblers, Harps arrived at the Carlisle grounds buoyed by a first win in four over Treaty United.
Knowing that a win would see them leapfrog the Donegal men, Bray began brightly but goalkeeper, Conor Walsh, on only his second league start, wasn’t overly tested in the opening stages.
Not that Harps, who rotated five, peppered the home goal as Bray netminder, Stephen McGuinness enjoyed a quiet start as he sought his fourth clean sheet of the campaign.
Three of the last five league encounters between these two had ended level so a fairly even, albeit uneventful, opening ensued.
Backed by the home faithful, Bray battled to gradually get on top of proceedings as captain, Darren Craven’s firm hit was caught by Walsh.
Attacker, Kieran Cruise, made his presence known with a crafty turn, centrally before his pass released striker, Cristian Magerusan who was denied expertly by Walsh.
Cruise and Harry Groome, scorer in Bray’s win here last season, both went close before The Seagulls finally struck the breakthrough.
Down the right, Max Muphy found Freddie Turley’s run into the penalty box. Turley’s pullback found an unmarked, Griffin who gratefully dispatched the opportunity past Walsh from close range.
Evidently dissatisfied, Finn Harps’ Head Coach, Darren Murphy made a triple substitution over the interval.
That led to a slight improvement in possession, but the away side were denied an equaliser when McGuinness repelled Patrick Ferry’s fierce effort.
Making more a fist of things, with David Cawley and Ryan Rainey’s experience on the field, Finn Harps sought a leveller.
Another substitute, Sean O’Donnell, saw his cross/shot from the wing claimed by McGuiness.
Down the other end, Griffin’s curling corner delivery had to be hacked away by a well-positioned Noe Baba as Bray looked to add a potentially match-sealing second goal.
Magerusan thought he’d have a chance to score it on the counterattack but Baba, again, came to Harps’ rescue with an impeccable recovery tackle deep inside his own defensive half.
O’Donnell was next to threaten, dancing in-field from the right wing only to see a combination of Craven and the excellent Evan Osam dispossess him on the edge of the area.
Bray’s substitutes helped see out the win, Zach Nolan impressing with a couple of crucial blocks late on.
The busy week continues for both sides with Bray travelling to Athlone Town on Friday night. Harps will host bottom side Longford Town at Finn Park at the same time.
Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness; Max Murphy, Evan Osam, Darren Craven ©, Harry Groome, Jamie Duggan, Freddie Turley (Guillermo Almirall 80), Paul Murphy, Shane Griffin, Kieran Cruise (Zach Nolan 80), Cristian Magerusan (Conor Knight 85).
Subs not used: Benjamin Clark (gk), Thomas Morgan, Zayd Abada, Philip Cooney.
Finn Harps:Conor Walsh; Jamie Watson, Matty Makinson, Noe Baba, Luke O’Brien, Darragh Coyle (Success Edogun 46), Patrick Ferry (Mark Mbuli 74), Tony McNamee ©, Chris Lotefa (Sean O’Donnell 46), Stephen Doherty (Ryan Rainey 66), Max Johnston (David Cawley 46).
Subs not used:Tim Heimer (gk), Shane McMonagle.
Referee:Jason Moore.
Attendance: 726.
extratime.com Player of the Match: Kieran Cruise (Bray Wanderers).
