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Bray's David Cassidy celebrates (file pic) Ryan Byrne/INPHO
Brilliant

Brilliant start for Magic Maciej, as 10-man Bray pull off unlikely win

A David Cassidy hat-trick inspired the beleaguered side to a win.

Sligo Rovers 1

Bray Wanderers 3

A DAVID CASSIDY hat-trick at The Showgrounds this evening inflicted a fourth defeat of the season on Sligo Rovers, who are now second bottom of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division

Bray Wanderers, under caretaker manager Maciej Tarnogrodzki, took the lead through David Cassidy after just five minutes, before Rovers pulled one back minutes later. The visitors again took the lead thanks to Cassidy, after they were reduced to 10 men. Owen Heary’s side were also down to 10 in the second-half, before David Cassidy got his third of the game.

For those who love a cliché, the first-half of this fixture really did have it all. To be more specific, there was a red card, a penalty, an equaliser and another penalty. Certainly enough to whet your appetite, you would think.

Despite the drama, this game wasn’t the prettiest. Bray Wanderers, who had been under fierce pressure from Sligo Rovers, were awarded a penalty after just five minutes, when Ryan Coulter upended David Cassidy in the box. Cassidy himself stepped up to the mark and slotted past Coulter to give the visitors the lead.

Owen Heary’s side got back into the swing of things and Steven Beattie levelled up the scoreline after 17 minutes. A cross from Alan Keane was missed by the Bray defence, and Kevin Devaney got on the end of it to send it back towards goal for Beattie to smash it past McGuinness.

It was 1-1, and Sligo were given a further boost as Bray were reduced to 10 men shortly afterwards. Dinny Corcoran was set to go one-on-one with Stephen McGuinness, before he was brought down on the edge of the box by Adam Mitchell. Padraigh Sutton produced the red card, and Mitchell went for an early shower.

One would expect the momentum to be with the home side, but Bray once again took the lead on the stroke of half-time. The referee awarded Bray a second penalty, after Ryan McEvoy was held in the box by Alan Keane. Once again, David Cassidy stepped up and scored, to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.

If you expected the second-half to be a quieter affair, you were wrong. Padraigh Sutton had the red card out again in the 52nd minute, when he gave Keith Ward his second yellow of the evening. Ward headed the ball out of Stephen McGuinness’ hands as he went to take a kick-out, and was then sent for an early shower.

It may be hard to believe, but there was further embarrassment for Sligo Rovers, as they went even further behind on 69 minutes. Cassidy was left unmarked in front of goal and from an Adam Hanlon cross, he headed past Coulter, making it 3-1.

Sligo Rovers: Ryan Coulter, Alan Keane (Morten Nielsen, 61), Gavin Peers, Stephen Folan, Jake Dykes, Steven Beattie, David Cawley, John Russell, Kevin Devaney (Sander Puri, 65), Keith Ward, Dinny Corcoran,

Subs: Ciaran Kelly, Gary Boylan, Danny Ledwith, Raffaele Cretaro, Eoin Wearen.

Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness, Michael Barker, Daniel O’Reilly, Adam Mitchell, Hugh Douglas, Luke Gallagher (Alan McNally, 41), Ryan McEvoy, Adam Hanlon (Emeka Onwubiko, 90+2), David Cassidy, Gareth McDonagh (Chris Lyons, 70), Peter McGlynn.

Subs: Brian Kane, Jack Memery, Niall Cooney, Peter Durrad.

Referee: Padraigh Sutton

Man of the match: David Cassidy – although Bray didn’t have too many chances throughout the game, he scored two penalties and took his third very well.

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