Sport

First home win means Bray's struggles look buried in the past

AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION Bray Wanderers 2 Drogheda Utd 1: BRAY WANDERERS recorded their first home win of the season…

Sat Apr 16 2011 - 01:00

AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION Bray Wanderers 2 Drogheda Utd 1:BRAY WANDERERS recorded their first home win of the season as early goals from Danny O'Connor and Dane Massey gave them a narrow victory over bottom-of-the-table Drogheda United at the Carlisle Grounds.

Incredibly, the result means that Bray, who might have won by a much bigger margin, are very much in Premier Division title contention after just escaping the relegation trapdoor last season.

The Seagulls had the perfect start when midfielder O’Connor headed home after just six minutes for his third goal in four games. Dave Webster started the move on the right, allowing John Mulroy to fire over a precision cross which was perfectly finished by O’Connor from close range.

There was more agony for Drogheda three minutes later when midfielder Gary Dempsey’s free-kick from the right allowed unmarked defender Massey to get in a glancing header past Stephen Trimble.

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It was all one-way traffic with Trimble coming to Drogheda’s rescue with outstanding point-blank saves in quick succession after efforts by Jake Kelly and O’Connor on the half-hour.

The visitors lived a charmed life as Bray peppered the goalmouth with a series of close-range efforts from O’Connor, Conor Murphy, Kelly and Chris Shields that Trimble, with the help of the woodwork, somehow managed to keep out of the net.

Bray had another opportunity on 49 minutes after a foul by Drogheda substitute Alan McNally on Shields, only for Massey’s free from 22 yards to be pushed over by the overworked Trimble.

Against the run of play Drogheda pulled a goal back on 81 minutes when a long ball out of defence by substitute Philip McDonagh allowed Darragh Hannaphy to run from his half to skip past Webster and Adam Mitchell before cleverly planting the ball past advancing Darren Quigley.

BRAY WANDERERS: Quigley; Webster, Mitchell, Prendergast , Massey; Mulroy (Zambra 87), Dempsey, O'Connor, J Kelly (Houston 90): Murphy (O'Neill 75), Shields.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Trimble; Nolan, Gannon, Ekanen, Whelan (McNally 45), C O'Brien (Flynn 58), M O'Brien, Quigley, Hand (McDonagh 45); Freeman, Hannapy.

Referee: Rob Rogers(Dublin).