Wanderers slump to 3rd defeat of the season

Match report thanks to www.braywanderers.ie
Bray's poor fortune resumed at the Carlisle Grounds, with Dane Massey the latest of Pat Devlin's squad to suffer an early exit.

Even though the Seagulls responded well to Dean Marshall's startlingly early goal, their plans were knocked back by a head injury to Adam Mitchell in the final minutes of the first half which saw him replaced before the break.

Jason Byrne struck seven minutes into the second period to give the hosts hope, but Drogheda regained the lead ten minutes later following a beautifully timed run by Shane Grimes, who fed Brian Gannon from the left to beat Darren Quigley with a nonchalant poke.

Barely two minutes later, Bray were reduced to ten men following consultation between the officials over an off-the-ball incident involving Massey and Gannon, who had just clashed with Kieran "Marty" Waters.

Midway through the half, substitute Sean Brennan latched on to a long cross-field ball, and faked his way around Quigley to fire into an empty net.

Three minutes later, it was the turn of Drogheda fans' favourite Declan "Fabio" O'Brien, only minutes on the pitch, to fire a low ball that skipped under the Bray keeper.

A Dean Zambra free wide on the left dipped just under the crossbar into Gabriel Sava's net four minutes later, but any hope of salvaging a point would have been misguided, as the visitors turned up the heat in the minutes remaining, and Quigley was the busier of the netminders.

Report: Mícheál Ó hUanacháin

Bray Wanderers: 1 Darren Quigley; 2 David Webster, 5 Adam Mitchell, 3 Dane Massey, 20 Seán Houston; 16 Dean Zambra, 21 Adam Hanlon, 6 Danny O'Connor (c), 14 Graham Kelly, 11 Kieran Waters; 10 Jason Byrne

Subs: 4 Colm Tresson, 8 Daire Doyle (for Mitchell 49+ inj), 12 Kevin Knight, 17 Jonathan Kelty, 18 John Mulroy (for Houston 73), 24 Stephen Last (for Kelly H/T), 25 Brian Kane (gk)

Drogheda United: 1 Gabriel Sava; 2 Stephen Quigley, 5 Alan McNally (c), 4 Derek Prendergast, 12 Shane Grimes; 11 Gavin Brennan, 8 Ryan Brennan, 17 Brian Gannon, 14 Dean Marshall; 9 Tiernan Mulvenna, 15 Peter Hynes

Subs: 3 Philip Hand, 6 Mark O'Brien (for R Brennan 83), 10 Sean Brennan (for Mulvenna 64), 19 Declan O'Brien (for Hynes 67), 21 John Breen, 40 Shane Finnegan, 42 Conor O'Keeffe

Referee: Padraig Sutton

Match report thanks to www.braywanderers.ie 

BRAY WANDERERS 0  DERRY CITY 4

Bray lost a second League tie on the trot in a dramatic night at the Carlisle Grounds.

In front of a disappointingly small crowd, given that it was their first home League game of the new season, Wanderers failed to sparkle, and let the visitors make the running.

Derry dominated the opening exchanges, and in a nightmare quarter hour mid-way through the first half the home side conceded two goals from play, lost their first-choice keeper to a mistaken decision and went three down with the ensuing penalty.

Despite an improved performance from the remaining ten Seagulls, there was little they could do to redress the situation, with the visitors playing a long-range version of possession football.

Jason Byrne, Kieran "Marty" Waters and Dean Zambra all had late half-chances to spare Bray's blushes after Rory Patterson took the Candystripes' tally to four.

But Bray's fans had little to be pleased about by the final whistle.

Report:  Mícheál Ó hUanacháin

Photos:  Mick Tierney

Bray Wanderers: 1 Darren Quigley; 8 Daire Doyle, 22 Pierce Sweeney, 3 Dane Massey, 20 Seán Houston; 21 Adam Hanlon, 16 Dean Zambra, 6 Danny O'Connor (c), 12 Kevin Knight; 11 Kieran Waters, 10 Jason Byrne

Subs: 5 Adam Mitchell, 9 Anthony Bolger (for Byrne 84), 14 Graham Kelly (for Sweeney H/T), 17 Jonathan Kelty, 18 John Mulroy, 19 Conor Butler, 25 Brian Kane (for Knight 34)

Derry City: 1 Gerard Doherty; 17 Simon Madden, 5 Stewart Greacen, 6 Shane McEleney, 3 Dermot McCaffrey; 10 Patrick McEleney, 7 Ruaidhrí Higgins, 4 Barry Molloy (c), 15 Stephen McLaughlan; 9 David McDaid, 11 Rory Patterson

Subs: 2 Eddie McCallion, 12 Ryan McBride, 16 Matthew Crosson, 18 Mark Farren (for P McEleney 69), 19 Owen Morrison (for McDaid 77), 22 Eugene Ferry, 23 Ryan Curran (for McLaughlan 77)

Referee: Anthony Buttimer

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