Bray Wanderers 2
Drogheda United 1
Dan Gorman reports from the Carlisle Grounds.
BRAY WANDERERS REDISCOVERED their winning touch as Drogheda United slid ominously nearer to the trap door.
Goals from Hugh Douglas and Aaron Greene put the Seagulls firmly in control before Chris Mulhall gave his side a fighting chance with 23 minutes to go.
Pete Mahon’s side applied pressure late on but couldn’t overcome the deficit despite a glorious late chance for Shane Elworthy.
Mulhall was presented with a wonderful chance to break the deadlock after just eight minutes but failed to do so despite having two bites at the cherry.
United should have taken the lead on 28 minutes courtesy of right-back Elworthy. Former Seagull Adam Wixted delivered a cross from the right and Elworthy had two attempts but failed on both occasions.
At the other end, Gary McCabe won a free kick and, with everyone jostling on the six-yard box, he whipped it towards the near post and only the crossbar denied him a cheeky opener.
Prior to kick-off, Seagulls fans had gone 270 minutes without seeing a goal from their side. But, shortly before the break here, they finally got one.
Kevin Lynch delivered a corner from the right and Hugh Douglas rose highest to power home on his dad’s 60th birthday.
But it was so nearly level at the break. Drogheda won a free-kick right on the edge of the penalty area. Sean Russell stepped up to strike and Cherrie stood motionless as it clipped the inside of the post and struck him before Bray managed to clear their lines.
Aaron Greene showed how cruel football can be five minutes into the second half as he stood over a free kick in an almost identical position to Russell’s. But the result was devastatingly different as he wrapped his effort to the net.
Mulhall pulled a goal back for the Drogs in the 67th minute and tried to retrieve the ball from the net but was stopped by Cherrie which lead to an enthusiastic shoving match which quickly attracted numerous team-mates from both sides. Yellow cards for Cherrie and Mulhall was the result.
Late on, Bray introduced 16-year-old Jake Ellis for his League of Ireland debut and held out to claim the crucial victory.
Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Hugh Douglas, Tim Clancy, Conor Kenna, Kevin Lynch (Jake Ellis, 90); John Sullivan, Darragh Noone (Mark Salmon, 70); Ryan Brennan, Gary McCabe, Karl Moore (Jason Marks, 85); Aaron Greene.
Drogheda United: Stephen McGuinness; Shane Elworthy, David Mulcahy, Stephen Dunne, Conor Kane; Adam Wixted (Ryan Masterson, 80), Jake Hyland (Thomas Byrne, 61) Richie Purdy, Sean Russell (Mark Doyle, 84); Jack Bayly; Chris Mulhall.
Referee: Ben Connolly.
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