Roo69
21/10/2003, 3:04 PM
Bray kept up their hopes of automatic promotion from the First Division with an impressive 3-1 victory over the Donegal club at the Carlisle Grounds on Sunday,
The Seagulls are now just three points behind leaders Harps and two behind second-placed Dublin City - who lost 1-0 away to Limerick - and significantly Pat Devlin's team have a match in hand against the two teams above them in the table.
With the wind in their favour in the first half, it was no surprise that Bray had all the early chances with midfielder Robbie McGuinness shooting over from close range after Stephen Fox had set up a perfect scoring opportunity on four minutes.
Just one minute later winger Paul Forsyth set up another chance for McGuinness to blaze wide when it looked easier to score with only goalkeeper Gary Ramsey to beat.
With virtually their first dangerous attack of the game Harps went in front after nine minutes. A Niall Bonner throw-in on the left allowed Kevin McHugh to get in a cross which was spilled by Bray 'keeper John Walsh allowing midfielder Paddy McGrenaghan to fire home from eight yards.
Bray might have equalised on 17 minutes when Bonner headed out a Forsyth cross from the left only for Irish Under 21 international Eamon Zayed to blaze over the bar.
The Seagulls were desperately unlucky two minutes later when following a corner from Forsyth on the left, a Colm Tresson header was pushed up in the air by 'keeper Ramsey.
Following up, Colm Tresson's header hit the upright although there were suggestions that the ball had first been handled by Harps defender Declan Boyle. But Dublin referee Eddie Barr allowed play to continue.
Bray grabbed a deserved equaliser on the half hour after a foul by Donal O'Brien on Tresson. From the resulting free taken by skipper Eddie Gormley, a hesitant Harps defence under pressure from Wesley Charles allowed Graham O'Hanlon to shoot home from six yards.
Another defensive error by the Donegal team enabled Bray to snatch the lead two minutes before the interval. A poor clearance allowed Keith Long to drive in a low cross from the right which Forsyth finished in style from seven yards.
Only a superb save by former Harps 'keeper John Walsh prevented the visitors equalising on 51 minutes after McHugh laid on a perfect ball for winger Tom Mohan. But Walsh made up for his earlier lapse when getting down to save Mohan's effort when a goal looked on the cards.
Harps were to regret that miss when Bray grabbed a third goal just one minute later. The industrious Gormley found Forsyth on the left and his cross was played into the path of Zayed to calmly side-foot into the corner of the net.
Bray might have had a fourth goal on 71 minutes only for McGuinness to shoot wide after the chance had been set up by Forsyth following a quick throw-in on the left by defender Maurice Farrell.
Bray Wanderers - Walsh; O'Hanlon, Tresson, Charles; Long,Gormley McGinness, Farrell; Zayed, Fox, Forsyth. Subs. - Ryan for Forsyth (88 mins.).
Finn Harps - Ramsey; R.Boyle, D.Boyle, Asokuh, Minnock; Mohan, McGrenaghan, O'Brien, Bonner; Whitehead, McHugh. Subs. - Kenny for R.Boyle (71 mins.), Flannery for Bonner (74 mins.).
Referee - Eddie Barr (Dublin).
The Seagulls are now just three points behind leaders Harps and two behind second-placed Dublin City - who lost 1-0 away to Limerick - and significantly Pat Devlin's team have a match in hand against the two teams above them in the table.
With the wind in their favour in the first half, it was no surprise that Bray had all the early chances with midfielder Robbie McGuinness shooting over from close range after Stephen Fox had set up a perfect scoring opportunity on four minutes.
Just one minute later winger Paul Forsyth set up another chance for McGuinness to blaze wide when it looked easier to score with only goalkeeper Gary Ramsey to beat.
With virtually their first dangerous attack of the game Harps went in front after nine minutes. A Niall Bonner throw-in on the left allowed Kevin McHugh to get in a cross which was spilled by Bray 'keeper John Walsh allowing midfielder Paddy McGrenaghan to fire home from eight yards.
Bray might have equalised on 17 minutes when Bonner headed out a Forsyth cross from the left only for Irish Under 21 international Eamon Zayed to blaze over the bar.
The Seagulls were desperately unlucky two minutes later when following a corner from Forsyth on the left, a Colm Tresson header was pushed up in the air by 'keeper Ramsey.
Following up, Colm Tresson's header hit the upright although there were suggestions that the ball had first been handled by Harps defender Declan Boyle. But Dublin referee Eddie Barr allowed play to continue.
Bray grabbed a deserved equaliser on the half hour after a foul by Donal O'Brien on Tresson. From the resulting free taken by skipper Eddie Gormley, a hesitant Harps defence under pressure from Wesley Charles allowed Graham O'Hanlon to shoot home from six yards.
Another defensive error by the Donegal team enabled Bray to snatch the lead two minutes before the interval. A poor clearance allowed Keith Long to drive in a low cross from the right which Forsyth finished in style from seven yards.
Only a superb save by former Harps 'keeper John Walsh prevented the visitors equalising on 51 minutes after McHugh laid on a perfect ball for winger Tom Mohan. But Walsh made up for his earlier lapse when getting down to save Mohan's effort when a goal looked on the cards.
Harps were to regret that miss when Bray grabbed a third goal just one minute later. The industrious Gormley found Forsyth on the left and his cross was played into the path of Zayed to calmly side-foot into the corner of the net.
Bray might have had a fourth goal on 71 minutes only for McGuinness to shoot wide after the chance had been set up by Forsyth following a quick throw-in on the left by defender Maurice Farrell.
Bray Wanderers - Walsh; O'Hanlon, Tresson, Charles; Long,Gormley McGinness, Farrell; Zayed, Fox, Forsyth. Subs. - Ryan for Forsyth (88 mins.).
Finn Harps - Ramsey; R.Boyle, D.Boyle, Asokuh, Minnock; Mohan, McGrenaghan, O'Brien, Bonner; Whitehead, McHugh. Subs. - Kenny for R.Boyle (71 mins.), Flannery for Bonner (74 mins.).
Referee - Eddie Barr (Dublin).