Wexford FC v Bray

[ForzaForth]

Game of fine margins in Ferrycarrig this evening, but Wexford more than edged the second half to ensure that they secured a deserved three points against Bray in a hard-fought encounter. Wexford started with an unchanged XI and began with Paul, Max, Adam, Robbie, Dean, Mikie, Zayd, Jamie, Gavin, Dylan and Jake. The opening of the game largely came down to two free-kicks. On two minutes, Wexford won one just outside the Bray area when Adam Verdon, with the aid of a slight deflection, hammered an effort off Bray’s crossbar. The ball was then returned into the danger area, where Wexford appealed for a peno due to a foul by Jimmy Corcoran in the Bray goal but nothing was given. The interest then changed to the other end when Bray won a free outside the Wexford area on seven minutes. This time the free hit the defensive wall, but the rebound was returned into the Wexford area where Paul Martin pulled off a tremendous save to keep out a volley by Bray’s Achara. Few chances were then created by either side until 21 minutes, when Ryan Kelly for Bray crossed a lovely ball to the far post where Bray’s Duggan headed home for 1-0 to the away side. Bray nearly added a second when the remainder of a Bray free enabled a Bray attacker to force the Wexford defence to clear off their own goal-line. Wexford had a couple of goal attempts right at the end of the half with two reasonable shooting chances and then a volley by Mikie Rowe which went wide of the Bray goal but he was given offside in any event. 0-1 to Bray at halftime after an even enough first half.

[ForzaForth]

Second half was a different affair, however, with the changes made by Wexford manager, Stephen Elliott, yielding results. First sub introduced by Wexford at the start of the second half was Evan Osam and Evan’s delightful cross from the left on six minutes enabled Wexford’s Jake Doyle to meet it sublimely with his head for a Wexford equaliser. 1-1 at this stage. Ryan Ritchie and Kaylem Harnett were subsequently introduced by Wexford and they combined to set up the second Wexford goal on 32 minutes when Ryan kept the ball alive down Wexford’s right and the ball eventually came to Kaylem Harnett in a central position who handily beat the first Bray defender before coolly slotting a shot past Corcoran for 2-1 to Wexford. Wexford also had general domination of this second period with Paul Martin not really tested in the Wexford goal. Liam Shuntaro Doyle was the final sub for Wexford and a very good effort from the right wing by Max Murphy went close to adding a third for Wexford just before the referee blew the final whistle. So, a great performance by the home side in the second half, aided by good substitutions, with Jake Doyle and Adam Verdon impressing of those who started for Wexford. Two great battles down Wexford’s two flanks with Bray’s Ryan Kelly and Alain Kizenga both having titanic battles against Wexford’s dangerous wingers, Mikie Rowe and Jamie Wynne. Crowd was believed to be 911.