Bray 0-2 UCD

[mcglinchey]

handy enough game, could have been 4 or 5 nil but one has to draw attention to brian shortall at the back. he is simply not good enough and i would even go as far as to mark him as a liability.

[Poor Student]

I'm reluctant to focus on such a negative after a 2-0 win. I thought at half time that the score flattered us but on the overall play over the 90 minutes we deserved to take the win. I've not been Matt Gregg's biggest fan but he was very solid today and was instrumental in our victory. He pulled off two good saves to keep us ahead at 1-0 before we nicked the second. I'm just delighted that we've ended this terrible streak of results and won this early six pointer.

[mcglinchey]

gregg,king and finn are 3 players i would pick out as having performed very well tonight but we have to look at our defensive performance and say,even though bray were terrible,our defence was bad also and when they come up against the likes of jason byrne,glen crowe and mark quigley they will be torn to peices. some of the decisions were woeful at the back

[superfrank]

Congratulations on your win tonight. Yez really outplayed us. We may have been poor but at least your lads were up for the game.

I thought Brian King was your MOTM. He created a lot of chances for yez and had a few good ones himself. Finn did well tonight as did Purcell and Byrne. I didn't think Gregg had too much to do but he did well when he had to.

I apologise for doubting yez so much pre-season.

[Poor Student]

Congratulations on your win tonight.

Cheers.


I didn't think Gregg had too much to do but he did well when he had to.

True, he only had a couple of saves but we've been a bit wary about him and he didn't set a foot wrong tonight.


I apologise for doubting yez so much pre-season.

It's early days yet. As McGlinchey pointed out, the defence isn't that solid. We've also got a weak squad. Another six pointer next week with Harps.

[HarpoJoyce]

Congratulations on your win tonight....
I thought Brian King was your MOTM. He created a lot of chances for yez and had a few good ones himself.


Thanks very much Superfrank. I was talking to a couple of Bray fans after the game. They rightly pointed out that both teams have a long way to go before they can claim any triumphant attitude.

UCD got lucky with the scrappy first blood, and the second goal from Byrne appeared a bit odd. Did the Bray defence slow up for an expected infringement. Byrne was able to run through for the goal.

UCD were happen it appears to let the game develop into a scrappy affair, if because we did all the hard work in the first half-an-hour.

I am delighted with the win, but I would like more away wins early on this season and affirm the Belfield Bowl as a Fortress.

[U-C-D]

draw attention to brian shortall at the back. he is simply not good enough and i would even go as far as to mark him as a liability

What is the solution to this problem then in everyone's opinion?
in my opinion there are 3 ways of dealing with this!

1) give him some more time because he should come good
2) Drop mcnally back into defence and play Fitzer
3) Give evan mcmillan a start at centre half

what are ever1's thoughts?

I think we need mcnally in midfield so id like to see him stay there! mayb give shorty a bit more time and if he doesnt improve give mcmillan a chance

[pineapple stu]

I think we need mcnally in midfield so id like to see him stay there! mayb give shorty a bit more time and if he doesnt improve give mcmillan a chance
My thoughts exactly.

Though very harsh to be picking on players after a performance like that, to be honest.

I see the RTÉ report notes our second scorer as Paul Burne, and puts up an old picture of Stephen Hurley. Which they've done before. :rolleyes:

[U-C-D]

Though very harsh to be picking on players after a performance like that, to be honest.

i agree and considering i didnt see the game im prehaps not the best person to comment on this, i would like to see this line-up play again before i can have a proper opinion on it!

all in all a good win so early in the season! hopefully most players can stay fit and can continue the good early form shown because injuries will hurt such a small squad!

[pineapple stu]

A goal apiece from UCD's front line of Timmy Purcell and Paul Byrne sent UCD on their way to a comfortable - and possibly hugely important - 2-0 win over Bray Wanderers in the Carlisle Grounds on Friday night. UCD gained completel control of the game by the second half, and could have won by more only to be twice denied by the woodwork.

As expected, the starting XI for the game against Derry were retained, while Bray gave a debut to ex-Student Andy Myler in place of the suspended Pat Kavanagh. UCD's bench was also unchanged, which meant no comeback yet for Derek Doyle.

UCD took the lead in the first serious attack of the game - a corner from Brian King was poorly defended, and after Paul Byrne's shot was half-cleared, Timmy Purcell pounced to ram the rebound into the net.

Bray responded, and went close to equalising a couple of times in the next quarter hour. Bray broke away down the right after the referee ignored an elbow on Brian Shortall, Andy Myler sent the ball across goal and Mark Duggan powered in a header which, fortunately for UCD, was too close to Matt Gregg, who parried away well. Two minutes later, Gary McCabe's winding run was halted on the edge of the area, but Alan Cawley fired the free kick over. UCD countered immediately, but Pat McWalter's cross-cum-shot was just a bit too ambitious to be able to beat Chris O'Connor in the Bray goal. And midway through the half, Matt Gregg had to pull off the save of the match from Mark Duggan's 25 yard pile driver.

On 28 minutes though, UCD doubled their lead. Ronan Finn's flick pass found Byrne in behind the Bray defence and bearing down on O'Connor; the Aussie keeper stopped Byrne the first time, but the rebound fell nicely, and Byrne ran on to tap into an empty net with the Bray defence looking around for an offside flag which never came.

Three minutes later, UCD nearly scored a third in bizarre circumstances. O'Connor came to the edge to pick up a through ball, and as he prepared to kick the ball out, the linesman flagged for a free kick, presumably for O'Connor carrying the ball outside his area. O'Connor was booked, the free was taken short to Ronan Finn, whose 25-yard curler was inches wide.

Truth be told, the half time score flattered UCD as Bray were well in the game, although UCD's forwards were getting far more room than their Bray counterparts. But with the withdrawal of Andy Myler and Alan Cawley at half time, Bray ceded the initiative to UCD, who very quickly took complete control of the game. Brian King nearly scored a sensational goal when his drive from all of 30 yards was only just tipped onto the top of the bar by the retreating O'Connor, while Conor Kenna hit the post with a header from a corner and King had good chances, but they came on his weaker foot, and he couldn't get the required power behind his shot. It mattered now, as the Students easily saw out the remainder of the match to move up to fifth in the still very formative league table.

UCD - Gregg; Mahon, Bermingham, Kenna, Shortall; McNally, King, McWalter, Finn; Byrne, Purcell. Subs not used - Brennan, McMillan, Forsyth, Fitzgerald, Gallagher.

Att - c 1000

[Schumi]

Good performance, even if Bray were awful. It's nice to see that we have enough firepower up front to take advantage when we're that much on top of a team.


O'Connor came to the edge to pick up a through ball, and as he prepared to kick the ball out, the linesman flagged for a free kick, presumably for O'Connor carrying the ball outside his area.From extratime.ie (http://extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/137/):
In the 38th minute, Bray were awarded a free-kick for offside when Timmy Purcell had a chance in the area. Keeper Chris O'Connor was incensed at the linesman and was booked for dissent.Almost as strange!

[pineapple stu]

The linesman wouldn't have flagged for dissent though. Pretty sure we wouldn't have gotten a free for it either. And finally, the keeper wouldn't have had the ball in his hands ready for a kick out if it were a free.

I'd say the reporter was thoroughly confused and that was all he could come up with!

[Poor Student]

You'd never have thought so after the first 30 mins of the Derry game but we're currently sitting in fourth. Totally academic at this point but it's aesthetically pleasing none the less.:D

[superfrank]

The linesman wouldn't have flagged for dissent though. Pretty sure we wouldn't have gotten a free for it either. And finally, the keeper wouldn't have had the ball in his hands ready for a kick out if it were a free.

I'd say the reporter was thoroughly confused and that was all he could come up with!
Not the case.

Bray were awarded a free after Purcell's shot was saved by O'Connor, presumably for offside. UCD players began to retreat up the pitch and for some reason O'Connor started abusing the linesman. He got a yellow and UCD had an indirect free which Byrne (iirc) had a shot that went just wide.

EDIT: The UCD reporter was in the press box too so he didn't have a better view.

[Schumi]

Byrne (iirc) had a shot that went just wide.Finn I think.

I've never heard of a free kick being reversed for dissent in football before though I suppose it's usually the penalised team that would be giving out!

[superfrank]

I don't understand why he was complaining but it was a Bray free. Ref blew for a free, Skippy let go at the lino as the UCD players were retreating. He still had the ball in his hands and that's why someone might think UCD were awarded the free for handball outside the area.

The ref confronted him over having a go at the lino, booked him and awarded UCD a free where Skippy was standing at the time, I thought it was inside the box but I'm not certain.

[Schumi]

He still had the ball in his hands and that's why someone might think UCD were awarded the free for handball outside the area.
That was my thinking. We were down the other end of the covered stand and I couldn't really see where the free was and all I could think of was that he'd carried the ball out. Pineapple was sitting beside me and probably paid too much attention to my thoughts. :)

[pineapple stu]

Problem with that theory is that it requires the ref to be remarkably incompetent to reverse a free.

Oh, wait...

[DmanDmythDledge]

RTÉ post match interviews (http://www.rte.ie/sport/2008/0316/mns_av.html).


but one has to draw attention to brian shortall at the back. he is simply not good enough and i would even go as far as to mark him as a liability.
Although I also wouldn't have Shorthall in my first XI I thought he had a solid game on Friday. It was probably his best performance since he re-signed last summer. Even though Bray weren't up to much upfront that performance will help build his confidence and hopefully he can start playing his best football once again.


I think we need mcnally in midfield so id like to see him stay there! mayb give shorty a bit more time and if he doesnt improve give mcmillan a chance
I don't McNally was that great in midfield on Friday. He gave the ball away a lot by either weakly passing it with the outside of his foot or trying the killer pass too often. While King has done well so far I think he is being wasted on the right wing. I think the team would be better setup with McNally in defence, Kinger in the centre and Fitz on the wing.

[HarpoJoyce]

I don't understand why he was complaining but it was a Bray free. Ref blew for a free, Skippy let go at the lino as the UCD players were retreating. He still had the ball in his hands and that's why someone might think UCD were awarded the free for handball outside the area.

The ref confronted him over having a go at the lino, booked him and awarded UCD a free where Skippy was standing at the time, I thought it was inside the box but I'm not certain.


Thanks once again Superfrank for providing the simple solution. I do remember the Bray keeper chasing across the box, ball in hand. Perhaps at the time, it looked like he wanted to make a to make a quick kickout .. hit someone (at another time I would have suggested he held on to the ball too long..)

Pineapple stu rather than applauding those with the information and the quick decision makers like the refereee, choses the opposite route. It is another timely reminder that the officials have to make decisions on the spot. I spent several hours after the game with both [/I]pineapple stu and [I]Schumi and neither mentioned the Bray keeper, referee nor the free.

Because alternatives are presented to them now, suddenly it is an issue for them

[kingdom hoop]

I spent several hours after the game with both [/I]pineapple stu and [I]Schumi and neither mentioned the Bray keeper, referee nor the free.



So just what did ye talk about?

[HarpoJoyce]

So just what did ye talk about?

Besides yereself......

It was a long and hard night, mostly based after an way win. Where were we in the table, between 7th (me) and 5th (Schumi). Pineapple stu just concurred with everything going on around him.

[Schumi]

I spent several hours after the game with both [/I]pineapple stu and [I]Schumi and neither mentioned the Bray keeper, referee nor the free.

Because alternatives are presented to them now, suddenly it is an issue for themIt's an issue now?

I haven't disputed superfrank's version of events, I just said that I haven't seen a ref reverse a free like that before (most likely because the situation hasn't arisen before) and at the game I made a guess on what happened based on the information available. I didn't mention it later on because it wasn't particularly important.

Leave off calling people numbskulls and idiots in future please, it's abusive, rude and unnecessary.

[Titan]

The only time a referee can change his decision is if he realises he got it wrong BEFORE play resumes.

He can not reverse a decision he has made based on a subsequent passage of events.

So if in this case the referee awarded an indirect free to us for dissent. The infringement must have taken place after the free for offside was taken. I didnt see the incident but if the referee decided to award us a free for dissent before the free kick was taken then he was wrong and must be punished (20 lashes of the cat o nine tails should suffice).

I cant believe that the excellent match officials that we endure er I mean are lucky to have would make such an amatuerish error therefore is it possible that you guys are confused?

Cos lets face it the referees never get it wrong!

[pineapple stu]

The only time a referee can change his decision is if he realises he got it wrong BEFORE play resumes.
You can actually go one further and note that a free can't be awarded for an incident which occurs when the ball isn't in play, as in this (supposed) case where the keeper is holding the ball, having been awarded a free kick.

So it may well be that superfrank is right (maybe MNS will tell), but you can certainly see (harpo...:rolleyes:) that the conclusion of handball outside the area is by far the most logical one, given the referee's decision.

[pineapple stu]

Bray were awarded a free after Purcell's shot was saved by O'Connor, presumably for offside. UCD players began to retreat up the pitch and for some reason O'Connor started abusing the linesman. He got a yellow and UCD had an indirect free which Byrne (iirc) had a shot that went just wide.
From watching MNS, it appears Bray didn't get a free for offside, which was O'Connor's problem and also explains away the fact that you can't get a free when the ball's not in play. However, I've never seen a free given for dissent before, to be honest. Think this is one for the Ask The Ref thread!

Quality finish from Timmy. Almost as good as Kenna's last week!

[Titan]

From watching MNS, it appears Bray didn't get a free for offside, which was O'Connor's problem and also explains away the fact that you can't get a free when the ball's not in play. However, I've never seen a free given for dissent before, to be honest. Think this is one for the Ask The Ref thread!

Quality finish from Timmy. Almost as good as Kenna's last week!

THe rule is if a player is mouthing at the ref,Linesman, or even other players. You award an indirect free kick where the player is standing and book the player involved.

[superfrank]

With the benefit of telly cameras, I'm willing to accept that my theory could be wrong as I noticed a few differences from what actually happened and what I thought I saw from the press box in other incidents.

[Schumi]

THe rule is if a player is mouthing at the ref,Linesman, or even other players. You award an indirect free kick where the player is standing and book the player involved.This must be what happened so. I don't think I've seen a case of dissent being called against a team in possession before. The keeper carrying the ball out of his box was a more fun possibility though. :)

[Schumi]

To get back to the rest of the game, Paul Byrne and Conor Kenna were named in Setanta's team of the week for what it's worth. http://www.setantasports.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/03/17/eLOI-Team-of-the-Week-Round-Two/?facets/sport-space/football/ireland-locale/

[DmanDmythDledge]

Paul Byrne also made eleven-a-side and eircom League teams of the week.:)

[Schumi]

Paul Byrne also made eleven-a-side and eircom League teams of the week.:)Byrne was on the EL team of the week after the Derry game.

[Schumi]

To get back to the rest of the game, Paul Byrne and Conor Kenna were named in Setanta's team of the week for what it's worth. http://www.setantasports.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/03/17/eLOI-Team-of-the-Week-Round-Two/?facets/sport-space/football/ireland-locale/

Kenna in again after the Sligo game. (http://www.setantasports.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/03/31/eLOI-Team-of-the-Week-Round-Four/?facets/sport-space/football/great-britain-locale/)