UCD's ten match unbeaten run came to an end in disappointing fashion with a 2-1 defeat in Bray this evening. After equalising shortly into the second half, UCD had most of the possession before being hit with a sucker punch from 18-year old Bray debutante Gary McCabe on the break, and the Seagulls held out for the a win which sees them move to within a point of the College with two games in hand.
With yet another centre-mid injury - Paul Crowley this time - Brian Shortall was deployed in the number 6 position as the only change from the team which drew with Derry last Friday. Bray had former Students Clive Delaney and Alan Cawley, although Stephen Hurley was ineligible under the terms of his loan deal.
And it was Cawley and Delaney who wer to combine for the opening goal on 20 minutes, with the latter heading in a corner delivered by the former.
Having gone behind, UCD came more into the game - Paul Byrne had a shot blocked away by his own strike partner a few minutes later, while the best chance of the half came on 37 minutes, when Byrne released his namesake Conan for a free run on goal, but his shot was well saved by Steve Williams, and the loose ball was ultimately headed behind for a corner.
Bray had the first attack of the second half and could have scored from it, when a short corner routine resulted in a cross which was headed inches wide of former Seagull Matt Gregg's far post. And Bray were to pay for their miss within 60 seconds, as UCD went straight up the pitch to equalise. Conan Byrne's trickery on the right saw him get space and send in a low cross, Paul Byrne and Conor Sammon contrived to send in a shot on goal, which Williams spilled straight to Derek Doyle to poke him from six yards.
Back on level terms, UCD took the game to their hosts as they looked for the lead goal. The best opportunity came on 60 minutes, when Conor Sammon set Shane McFaul up for a shot from the edge of the area, but some excellent Bray defence saw the shot blocked away to safety.
And within ten minutes of that chance, Bray were 2-1 up with pretty much their first chance since the 46th minute. McCabe was the protagonist, finding space on the left of the UCD box before getting past a couple of tackles and firing home past Matt Gregg into the far corner, although Gregg did get a hand to the ball.
Gregg nearly gifted Bray a security goal when he came out of his box to clear, but succeeded only in conceding a free inside the D. Receiving only a yellow for his transgression, the free was ballooned over the bar.
As the game ticked on, UCD got the upper hand mroe and more, and on 78 minutes came ultimately their best chance for an equaliser when a good move culminated in Greg Bolger receiving the ball on the edge of the area; his shot was straight at keeper Williams, but he will be disappointed with his effort given that Derek Doyle was in acres of space on the overlap.
Four minutes later, a mis-hit from Conan Byrne nearly caught Williams out but, as what appeared a wild pass suddenly went to dip under the bar, Williams palmed over the top of his goal.
UCD went 3-4-3 for the last few minutes in an attempt to emulate recent games against Longford and St Pat's and grab a late equaliser for a 2-2 draw. Paul Byrne had the last chance for the Students when, after good work from Doyle on the by-line, the ball came to him ten yards out, but his shot was blocked away for a corner. Bray cleared the corner and spent most of the three minutes' injury time running down the clock in the corner, although they did force one excellent save out of Matt Gregg with a shot on the turn from the edge of the area which was well turned over.
UCD - Gregg; Mahon (Forsyth 87), Bermingham, Kenna, McNally; Shortall (Bolger 65), C Byrne, McFaul, Doyle; Sammon (Purcell 82), P Byrne
Booked - McFaul; Gregg
With yet another centre-mid injury - Paul Crowley this time - Brian Shortall was deployed in the number 6 position as the only change from the team which drew with Derry last Friday. Bray had former Students Clive Delaney and Alan Cawley, although Stephen Hurley was ineligible under the terms of his loan deal.
And it was Cawley and Delaney who wer to combine for the opening goal on 20 minutes, with the latter heading in a corner delivered by the former.
Having gone behind, UCD came more into the game - Paul Byrne had a shot blocked away by his own strike partner a few minutes later, while the best chance of the half came on 37 minutes, when Byrne released his namesake Conan for a free run on goal, but his shot was well saved by Steve Williams, and the loose ball was ultimately headed behind for a corner.
Bray had the first attack of the second half and could have scored from it, when a short corner routine resulted in a cross which was headed inches wide of former Seagull Matt Gregg's far post. And Bray were to pay for their miss within 60 seconds, as UCD went straight up the pitch to equalise. Conan Byrne's trickery on the right saw him get space and send in a low cross, Paul Byrne and Conor Sammon contrived to send in a shot on goal, which Williams spilled straight to Derek Doyle to poke him from six yards.
Back on level terms, UCD took the game to their hosts as they looked for the lead goal. The best opportunity came on 60 minutes, when Conor Sammon set Shane McFaul up for a shot from the edge of the area, but some excellent Bray defence saw the shot blocked away to safety.
And within ten minutes of that chance, Bray were 2-1 up with pretty much their first chance since the 46th minute. McCabe was the protagonist, finding space on the left of the UCD box before getting past a couple of tackles and firing home past Matt Gregg into the far corner, although Gregg did get a hand to the ball.
Gregg nearly gifted Bray a security goal when he came out of his box to clear, but succeeded only in conceding a free inside the D. Receiving only a yellow for his transgression, the free was ballooned over the bar.
As the game ticked on, UCD got the upper hand mroe and more, and on 78 minutes came ultimately their best chance for an equaliser when a good move culminated in Greg Bolger receiving the ball on the edge of the area; his shot was straight at keeper Williams, but he will be disappointed with his effort given that Derek Doyle was in acres of space on the overlap.
Four minutes later, a mis-hit from Conan Byrne nearly caught Williams out but, as what appeared a wild pass suddenly went to dip under the bar, Williams palmed over the top of his goal.
UCD went 3-4-3 for the last few minutes in an attempt to emulate recent games against Longford and St Pat's and grab a late equaliser for a 2-2 draw. Paul Byrne had the last chance for the Students when, after good work from Doyle on the by-line, the ball came to him ten yards out, but his shot was blocked away for a corner. Bray cleared the corner and spent most of the three minutes' injury time running down the clock in the corner, although they did force one excellent save out of Matt Gregg with a shot on the turn from the edge of the area which was well turned over.
UCD - Gregg; Mahon (Forsyth 87), Bermingham, Kenna, McNally; Shortall (Bolger 65), C Byrne, McFaul, Doyle; Sammon (Purcell 82), P Byrne
Booked - McFaul; Gregg
, Pip Keogh hauling down the UCD attacker at 3-2 and geting away with it
etc), it's probably just because we won but I thought the referee handled the game well enough - not a lot of decisions that defy logic and leave you pulling your hair out (which happens reasonably often). I reckon you could count the official's errors from this game on 2 hand's ..... that's an improvement on recent Bray - UCD encounters
It was the cup quarter final 2005 and it was Damien Dupuy hauled down.
At times, particularly the start of the 2nd half we played some nice stuff.
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