It wasn’t the FAI Cup winners’ medal in Philip Keogh’s pocket that was the surprise. It was the fact that he’d had to move to Longford Town to win it. The diminutive former Bray midfielder was at the Carlisle this afternoon, fresh from yesterday’s triumph at Lansdowne Road, to support his erstwhile colleagues.
As recently as the beginning of last season it was reasonable to hope that Keogh might win a medal in Bray’s colours but promise evaporated into relegation and now Wanderers need the boost of an immediate return to premier status. Several of the previous squad moved on like Keogh but prudent management retained an experienced nucleus and, together with some exciting new talent, the assault on the First Division championship has been credibly mounted. Current leaders Finn Harps have been despatched from the Carlisle with no points to show for their efforts but there have been glitches and, after a second defeat at lowly Athlone on Friday, questions to be answered.
The current Dundalk side, just a shadow of those who have worn the colours of this famous club, seemed well cast as victims as Bray sought to capitalise on their game in hand with this re-scheduled match. The density of fixtures, a need to nurse injuries and an astute appraisal of what would be required to gain three vital points lead to Pat Devlin fielding what, on paper, looked a lightweight side.
No Gormley or Tresson to add weight and experience in defence and a rest for Forsyth meant rare starts for Michael Lawless and Ciaran Ryan in midfield. O’Brien continued as Zayed’s partner up front with a heavyweight bench that included Forsyth, O’Connor, James and Flood. And Gormley. Just in case.
Eddie must have stirred nervously at the start when a rare miscue from Farrell sent the ball spiralling high in front of the Bray goal. It took an age to re-engage with gravity; Walsh thought about coming to claim but a glance convinced him that Charles would take charge. No contest – and the first action of an alpha afternoon for the big West Indian who seems likely to win the Supporters Club Player of the Month award in perpetuity at this rate.
The newly constituted midfield gave further opportunity for the coaching staff to promote Robbie McGuinness’ drive in the centre and he soon tested Andy Bayliss with a sharp volley. But the Dundalk keeper was picking the ball out of the net a minute later. Ciaran Ryan, bright and inventive down the left, forced a corner on that flank. Farrell caused a flurry with a decoy run short to the taker but McGuinness sent the ball arcing into the visitors’ penalty area and Charles towered over a packed goalmouth. One-nil. Everything going to plan. John Walsh didn’t get a proper touch until the seventeenth minute and then it was only a routine take of a through ball.
McGuinness threatened, Bayliss saved and, despite much possession, with the muscular Fox comprehensively winning his battle for midfield supremacy with Gary Sliney, the Seagulls failed to deliver. Only your dry cleaner knows how nervous a lone goal lead can make you. Sure enough, a smart cross by Simon Kelly on the Dundalk right had Walshie on the back foot but, never fear, Wes is here and the dreadlocks flew as the big man averted danger.
Twenty six minutes gone and Eamon Zayed and Dundalk’s Ghanaian defender Baba Isaaka collapsed into a flailing heap in the visitors’ penalty area. But referee Tuite, who kept the game flowing, was not moved to lift the whistle. Another close call for Dundalk just after the half hour when, following good combination from Fox and O’Brien, it needed a quick sortie from Bayliss to close down Zayed. The ball hit the keeper and spun dangerously towards the open goal till full back Coburn deflected it wide of the near post.
Two minutes later Kavanagh seemed to have unpicked the Bray defence to put Carthy clean through but the lumbering Charles instantly morphed into a twinkle toes to shepherd the ball effortlessly away from danger. But the calm preceded a period of panic in the home goalmouth as friend and foe alike missed a ball trundling across it until McGuinness hacked it out of harm’s way. The resulting corner took a similar unimpeded course before reaching Marney, wide on the right. Walsh saved his shot comfortably enough and dealt with another in similar fashion when Kearns chested the ball back to the former Pats' man on the edge of the area. Time for a cuppa to steady the nerves.
Bray began the second half as if they’d only been kidding and now the serious demolition would proceed. Scintillating stuff from Farrell, Ryan and McGuinness left the Dundalk defence standing but Lawless shot over. Lawless then inspired chaos in the visiting goalmouth with a finely judged lob that Ryan returned to bounce on top of the bar.
Dundalk’s players were visibly running out of steam with Zayed beginning to run skipper Curran ragged. Yet no movement on the Dundalk bench and no goals for Bray to celebrate either, despite a number of one-on-ones between Zayed and Bayliss, with the keeper a creditable winner on every occasion. When he did eventually get on the score sheet it was from the penalty spot after O’Brien, well placed in the Dundalk penalty area, took the ball the wrong way but fell over the hapless Curran’s outstretched leg. Zayed stood up to be counted and hit the spot kick firmly to the keeper’s right. Bayliss did well to get a hand to it but it was not enough. Fifty six minutes gone. Surely two goals would be enough but surely the Seagulls were not going to stop at two?
Two things conspired to ensure that, despite endless opportunities, the scoring was over. First, frailty in finishing, particularly from the unstoppable Zayed, who only reveals feet of clay at the killer moment. Second, a fine display of goalkeeping from Bayliss, diving to catch, punch and parry and, in particular, diving at opponents' feet to snuff out certain goals on several occasions.
One of these exploits, when he was bravely down at Zayed’s feet as the striker moved to convert O’Brien’s cross after 72 minutes deserves individual mention but Bayliss’s best save was with his left leg which he used to deflect a Zayed rasper for a corner eleven minutes later.
So big Eddie kept his track suit on and the Bray squad lived happily ever after. Well, until Saturday anyway. As for the enigma of why moustachioed Trevor Anderson kept all his subs on the bench, you’d need inspector Morse to unravel that. And the Bray public address system doesn’t play his kind of music.
Brian de Salvo
Bray Wanderers:
1 John Walsh; 4 Keith Long, 2 Graham O'Hanlon, 5 Wesley Charles, 3 Maurice Farrell; 6 Michael Lawless, 7 Robbie McGuinness, 8 Stephen Fox, 11 Ciaran Ryan; 9 Eamon Zayed, 10 Kieran O'Brien (c)
Subs: 12 Paul Forsyth, 13 Chris O'Connor (gk), 15 Eddie Gormley, 16 Colm James (for Lawless 79), 17 John Flood (for O'Brien 79)
Dundalk:
1 Andy Bayliss; 2 Michael Coburn, 5 Alan McCartney, 4 Paul Curran (c), 3 Baba Isaaka; 8 Simon Kelly, 11 Paul Marney, 6 Gary Sliney, 7 Ciaran Kavanagh; 9 Colm Kearns, 10 Keith Carthy
Subs: 12 Chris Lawless, 14 Barry McGahon, 15 Olan Flanagan, 16 Anto Reilly, 17 Danny Woods (gk)
