Wanderers finish pre-season with a win

All in all its fair to say that pre-season has gone well for Bray. Having lost both Setanta Cup matches the Wanderers won 3 out of 3 friendlies against other clubs from the Republic. Excluding the Setanta Sports Cup games Bray also haven't conceded a goal as they overcame Waterford by 5 goals to nil, St Mochtas by 2 goals to nil and last night Wexford Youths by 3 goals to nil.

Bray have been played very nice free flowing football during the pre-season matches and this style continued last night against a very disciplined and resilient Wexford Youths.  Wanderers should have taken the lead after just 5 minutes when Jason Byrne headed over from close range. Byrne was key to the free flowing football last night. This continued when Byrne controlled the ball and lied it on for John Mulroy who's shot went just wide. Mulroy was involved again only minutes later when he forced Youths goalkeeper Graham Doyle into a fine save and tip the shot around the post.
Youths got their first real chance on the 18th minute when CJ Browne headed over Quigley's bar from a corner. Marty Waters and Jason Byrne look to already have a very good understanding as to how each other plays. On the 28th minute Byrne put Waters through by he had a shot blocked by CJ Browne. Wanderers took the lead on the 41st minute when Danny O'Connor took a long range shot from around 20 yards out maybe even more which riffled into the top corner of the net leaving the keeper with no chance. Danny will hope he can hit a few more of them during the season.
Quigley got his first major taste of the action 5 minutes into the 2nd half when he tipped over a header from Malone.Marty Waters had one of those nights when nothing seemed to go in for him, however he kept on trying and he got his reward on the 67th minute when he took a long range shot from the just before the edge of the box.The shot curled and nestled in the top corner. A very good strike indeed and Wanderers 2nd long shot of the night. On 72 minutes Wanderers went 3 nil up when Ian Byrne took a shot , again from a fair distance out. His shot was misjudged by the Wexford goalkeeper as it looped into the net over the keepers head. Wanderers could and should have made it 4 nil on the 80th minute when Sean Houston headed wide at the back post when he was free of a marker.
Wexford nearly got one back in the last minute. A cross into the box from Wall was just missed by Furlong on the back post. Furlong was put off from the change in direction of the ball when Kane managed to get a finger tip to the cross.

 BRAY WANDERERS: 1 Darren Quigley, 15 Stephen Brennan, 11 Conor Butler, 3 Dane Massey, 5 Stephen Last, 16 Dean Zambra, 6 Danny O'Connor (C), 18 John Mulroy, 10 Jason Byrne, 21 Kieran 'Marty' Waters

SUBS: 2 Jason Rankin(Last ,58), 7 Ian Byrne (O'Connor H/T), 8 Ger Pender (Mulroy, 63), 12 Kevin Knight (Brennan 77), Jonathan Kelty (Waters 68), 22 Sean Houston (Butler ,68), 25 Brian Kane GK (Quigley , 68), 26 Adam Hanlon (J.Byrne , H/T), 27 Pierce Sweeney (Massey H/T)

WEXFORD YOUTH'S: 1 Graham Doyle, 2 Mark Phelan, 3 Shane Clarke, 4 Jamie Carr, 5 CJ Browne, 6 Shane Dempsey, 7 Brian Nolan, 8 Patsey Malone, 9 Danny Furlong, 10 Aidan Kennan, 11 Shane Nolan

SUBS: 12 Craig Wall (Kennan , 75), 15 Martin Keogh, 15 Thomas Clarke (S.Clarke ,71), 16 Neale Phelan (Dempsey , 71), 17 Chris Fennor (Malone 71)

Wanderers begin pre-season with a bang

MATCH REPORT- Bray Wanderers v Waterford United

This game was only announced during the week and as you would expect there was only a small support at the game. Credit to the few Waterford fans that made the trip up for this friendly game.

The first half was a even contest with little between both teams, The first chance of the match came to Marty Waters but he shot well wide from a good position. Again then on 7 minutes Bray missed a great chance to take the lead when John Mulroy somehow shot wide after receiving a great cross from new boy Jonathon Kelty.

Then it was Waterford time to have some chances. After 21 minutes Waterford nearly took the lead when Paul Carey headed just over Quigley's bar. On 27 minutes a mix up in the Bray defence lead to Willie John Kiely being though 1 on 1 with Quigley with the Bray keeper standing his ground to make the save.

New signing from Adam Hanlon from Arklow Town was causing Waterford all sorts of problems on the right wing and with 6 minutes to go to have time he nearly turned provider but Marty Waters had his header saved by the Waterford keeper. Bray did however take the lead just before half time when Dane Massey headed in on the back post from a Kelty cross.

Bray made a few changes at half time with a roll on roll off policy being used. Jason Byrne was one of those that came on at half time and it didn't take him long to get on the score sheet. Only 3 minutes into the second half he fired in from close range. That goal seemed to give Bray plenty of confidence as they went in search of more goals. On the 58th minute Daire Doyle picked up the ball on the half way line and ran straight through the Waterford defence to slot past the Waterford keeper. 10 minutes later Kevin knight crossed the ball for John Mulroy to make it 4-0. Then on the 90th minute Jonathon Kelty got a well deserved goal to make it 5.
Final Score Bray Wanderers 5-0 Waterford United.

Bray will see this game as a very good workout for the squad. At times the wanderers played some very good and attractive football which can gives fans plenty to be optimistic about ahead of the new season.

BRAY WANDERERS(starting 11): Darren Quigley, Stephen Brennan, Conor Butler, Colm Tresson, Dane Massey, Danny O'Conor , Adam Hanlon, Sean Houston, Kieran Marty Waters, John Mulroy, Jonathan Kelty.

Waterford United(starting 11): Robbie Hughes, Peter White, Craig Burns, David Breen, Seamus Long, Gary Dempsey, Gary Dunphy, Paul Carey, Willie John Kiely, Ben Ryan, Paul Phelan.

Attendance:100 estimate