Soccer

Late free by Miele sees Shamrock Rovers win dour game

Defeat harsh on Bray who frustrated their hosts for most of game at Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers’ Brandon Miele with Hugh Douglas of Bray Wanderers. Photograph: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Shamrock Rovers’ Brandon Miele with Hugh Douglas of Bray Wanderers. Photograph: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Tue Sept 22 2015 - 22:50

Shamrock Rovers 1 Bray Wanderers 0

A late free kick from Brandon Miele gave Shamrock Rovers a laboured but welcome first win in five games.

Defeat was harsh on Bray who frustrated their hosts for most of the game at Tallaght Stadium until the redeeming moment of a dour encounter at 88 minutes.

Midfielder Miele, upended on the edge of the area by Bray defender Niall Cooney, stepped up to blast the resulting direct free kick through the wall to the net.

It took a sluggish Rovers 23 minutes to pose any real menace, with Bray left-back Michael Barker snuffing out the threat of Mikey Drennan as he tried to latch onto Damien Duff's through ball.

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There was a little more impetus to the game on the resumption. Rovers goalkeeper Barry Murphy made a comfortable save from Adam Hanlon's weak shot before Drennan ran through to bring a more telling stop from Peter Cherrie at the other end on 52 minutes.

Bray remained well in the game, and carved their best opening on 70 minutes. Cassidy found himself in space on the right to put over a low cross to the near post which Ryan McEvoy, at a stretch, toed narrowly wide.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy; Madden, Kenna, Blanchard, D. O'Connor; G. Brennan, McCabe (R. Brennan , 90), McPhail (Cregg, 72), Miele; Duff (North, 67); Drennan.

BRAY WANDERERS: Cherrie; Douglas, Cooney, McNally Barker; Cassidy, Kelly, Sullivan, McEvoy, Hanlon (Wixted, 83); Lyons (Scully, 80). Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin).