IT WAS THREE goals and three points for St Patrick’s Athletic last night in Richmond Park as they eased past Bray Wanderers to earn their first league win of the season.
In what was a frantic opening few minutes Greg Bolger’s driving run into the box drew a foul from Luke Gallagher, and Killian Brennan converted from the spot.
And Forrester then made it 2-0 in the fifth minute when he picked out the bottom corner with a clean strike from the edge of the area, but Bray really should have halved the deficit 60 seconds later.
Some sloppy play from Brendan Clarke, who was making his 150th competitive appearance for Pat’s, relinquished possession to Chris Lyons on the edge of the Saints’ box, but he somehow steered his shot agonisingly wide
Luke Gallagher and James Chambers then traded wide efforts in quick succession, and the tie lost some of its intensity after that, but the home side remained largely in control.
That was mainly down to the likes of Greg Bolger, Killian Brennan, and Ian Bermingham, who looked keen to make up for last week’s loss to Shamrock Rovers.
In the second half Bray’s packed midfield continued to struggle against the free flowing FGAI Cup holders, and when Bolger and Chambers linked up on the hour mark, Fagan converted from close-range.
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Brendan Clarke, Ian Bermingham (c), Conor McCormack, Sean Hoare, Kenny Browne, Greg Bolger, Conan Byrne (Cyril Guedje 86), Killian Brennan, James Chambers, Chris Forrester (Aaron Greene 84), Christy Fagan (Ciaran Kilduff 74).
BRAY WANDERERS: Stephen McGuinness, Michael Barker, Alan McNally (c), Daniel O’Reilly, Jack Memery, Luke Gallagher, Graham Kelly, Ryan McEvoy, Peter McGlynn (Emeke Onwubiko 89), David Scully (Hugh Douglas 69), Chris Lyons (Gareth McDonagh 77).
Man of the Match: Ian Bermingham
Referee: Derek Tomney
