Bray Wanderers 5
Finn Harps 3
Dan Gorman reports from the Carlisle Grounds, Bray
IN A WELCOME change, it was goals that rained at the Carlisle Grounds as Bray Wanderers maintained their 100% start to the season thanks to some generous decisions by referee Anthony Buttimer.
Having waved away an early Harps penalty shout, his decreasing popularity then plummeted after two generous decisions led to Bray’s opening two goals.
Firstly, a soft free saw McCabe’s effort fumbled from under his crossbar by Ciaran Gallagher and it would fall to Flood to lash home.
Bray’s penalty was next. Aaron Greene tried to whip in a cross from the left and it struck Michael Funston on the arm. McCabe calmly stroked home from 12 yards.
Ciaran O’Connor reduced the arrears for Harps only for Greene to replenish it with his first goal in Bray colours.
O’Connor grabbed a second early in the second half but another moment of controversy eased matters for Bray.
Gallagher raced from his goal to cut out a pass, headed clear and went to ground holding his head. The ball fell to McCabe, Buttimer played on, and McCabe curled home his third goal of the season into the empty net.
That would be Gallagher’s last involvement and his replacement, Harry Doherty, was extremely impressive in his cameo despite being beaten by Dylan Connolly for Bray’s fifth.
Ethan Boyle would round off the madness as he glanced home Paddy McCourt’s 75th minute corner.
BRAY WANDERERS: Peter Cherrie; Hugh Douglas (Gareth McDonagh, 39), Tim Clancy, Conor Kenna, Kevin Lynch; John Sullivan, Keith Buckley (Mark Salmon, 67); Aaron Greene, Gary McCabe (Karl Moore, 91), Dylan Connolly; Anto Flood.
FINN HARPS: Ciaran Gallagher (Harry Doherty, 61); Ethan Boyle, Damien McNulty, Killan Cantwell Ciaran Coll; Conal McAleer, Michael Funston (Paddy McCourt, 62), Barry Molloy (Gareth Harkin, 73), Johnny Bonner; Sean Houston; Ciaran O’Connor.
Referee: Anthony Buttimer.
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