Bray (FAI Cup)

[ForzaForth]

Excellent win by the Youths in Ferrycarrig tonight in evenly contested game and in match of contrasting styles. Youths had a few absentees such as Lasty and Rocks and started with Graham, Craig, Killian, CJ, Ryan, Skelly, Ben, Shane D., Peter, Eric and with Danny up front. Bray created a decent chance after four when a cross came into the box an CJ stuck out a leg to knock it away. But otherwise, Bray played a very direct game hitting the ball long at virtually every opportunity. After six, Youths lost the ball in their own half but, in the first of quite a few one-on-ones against the opposing keeper by both sides, O'Neill pulled his shot wide. After ten, Eric had Wexford's first one-on-one against Redmond in the Bray goal, but similarly pulled his shot wide. After 13 minutes, McGill of Bray got a yellow for a tackle on Ben and then, on 20 minutes, Skelly also got a yellow for a tackle. A minute later, Eric nearly was put through again, but Redmond did well to block the shot. Then Hanlon was clean through on Graham but shot over the bar. Little then occurred until just before half-time when, with two minutes to go, Moloney (ex-Youths) of Bray got a yellow and Shane O'Neill was through again on Graham but smacked it straight at him for 0-0 at half-time and pretty even with Wexford trying harder to keep the ball on the ground.

[ForzaForth]

Wexford had a better second period and did enough to deserve their win. After five, Shane Dunne got a yellow for a tackle. Two minutes later, Danny, who had a really effective second period, was through on Redmond but the Bray keeper managed to knock the ball over his own crossbar for a corner. Three minutes later, Danny was through on goal again but Redmond pushed his shot away one-handed. The resulting Wexford corner found Eric free in the box but being off-balance hit his effort well-wide. On the hour mark, Eric did well down Wexford's right, crossed low into Bray's box where it was touched back for Craig to drive it home well to give Redmond no chance for 1-0. On 65, Akinabe came on for O'Neill for Bray. Bray's Hanlon then got a yellow for a tackle and with fifteen to go, Skelly shot just over from 25 yards out. Jake and Graham Kelly then came on for Bray. Bray came nearest to getting the equaliser with ten to go when Graham had to push away a stinging volley from just outside the box and immediately after a Bray shot was cleared off the line by a Youth's defender for a corner.

[ForzaForth]

That was really the end of the Bray threat other than a few corners which Wexford dealt with comfortably enough. With four minutes to go, Danny did exceptionally to beat the two central defenders of Bray to latch onto a hopeful long ball and send a good volley towards the top corner which Redmond had to push away for a corner. The long four minutes of injury-time were comfortably handled by the Youths as Bray were down to ten at this stage with Webster having to limp off and all subs used.

Best for Wexford where the whole team worked hard was probably CJ at the back who, with his strength, mopped up everything thrown at him in the air in a game that was tailor-made for him. Shane Dunne and Peter Higgins used the ball well in midfield and Danny was very effective up front. Bray's Hanlon looked useful down their right but was badly under-used while Byrne was their pick in midfield. But overall, their long-ball game suited Wexford and it was only in the last ten minutes when the two Kellys came on that they tried to get the ball down but too late. Seemed to be a disappointing enough crowd at only about 350. 1-0 to the Youths at full-time. Official man of the man was goal-scorer Craig Short.