Match details
| Bray Wanderers | 3 - 2 | Cobh Ramblers |
Details
| Date : | Fri Oct 31 |
|---|---|
| Time : | 19:45 |
| Competition : | EL Premier |
| Place : | Carlisle Grounds |
Comments
Bray scored three times at the Carlisle Grounds for the first time in 13 months as they finally cemented their Premier Division status for a record fifth season.In front of the television cameras, Gary Cronin came off the bench to score his first goal for Wanderers to keep Cobh in the relegation equation.
But the visitors were thwarted by an inspired Alan Gough and the post on three occasions.
Andy Myler's clever 72nd minute flick released sub Gareth Coughlin.
His delightful chip was brilliantly pawed off the line by Fennelly.
But the ball fell to fellow reserve Cronin who fired in from close range.
Having kept four clean sheets in their previous four games, Ramblers' record fell at the 373 minute mark as the Seagulls broke the deadlock in the tenth minute.
Alan Cawley played a lofted ball down the left channel that wasn't cut-out by John Meade, and Paddy Kavanagh burst into the box and set-up Myler.
He scuffed his effort, only for Aidan O'Keeffe to bundle in his first goal for the Wicklow side since his loan move from Drogheda United.
Undeterred, the Munster side narrowly failed to draw level eight minutes later.
First Ross Gaynor's 22-yard free crashed back off a post. Within moments, a right wing cross was headed across his own goal by Kevin Doherty. The ball fell to Davin O'Neill, only for veteran keeper Gough to make an outstanding save from the 12-yard volley.
In an open contest, Wanderers doubled their lead in the 23rd minute.
Ger Rowe gathered possession and played a slide rule pass to enable O'Keeffe to beat the offside. Cutting in from the left, the winger guided a cracking shot into the top corner of the net at the front post as Anthony Fennelly anticipated a cross.
But Ramblers response was instant.
Fed by Alan Carey from the right flank, Greg O'Hallorhan hit a 25-yard rocket that swerved and rebounded in off the far upright.
Stephen Henderson's men then went and equalised by the 27th minute.
After a throw in from the left wing, O'Neill turned and hit a 25-yard screamer that dipped beyond Gough and just under the crossbar.
Cobh almost took a 3-2 lead into the interval.
O'Neill's 43rd minute mazy run and dinked cross allowed Carey to rise above Derek Pender. But his header hit the top of the bar and went over.
Then six minutes after the break, Carey's corner was cleared back to him. The second delivery curled in and Gough was required to claw the ball onto his bar.
As the rain pelted down, the away side were denied by both Gough and the woodwork again in the 66th minute.
O'Neill teed up Colin O'Brien, whose fierce drive was tipped onto the bar by the custodian, who recovered to gather the ball as it dropped back to him.
After falling behind for a third time, the Rams nearly conjured up a sixth score of the match.
Carey bent in yet another corner. Kevin Murray out jumped Doherty but Pender nodded off the line.
Bray Wanderers: Gough; Whelan, Doherty, Foran (Robson 74 mins), Pender; Kavanagh (Coughlan HT), Cawley, Whelan, O'Keeffe (Cronin 69); Myler, Rowe.
Cobh Ramblers: Fennelly; Carey (A Kearney 90 mins), Murray, Guthrie, J Meade; Carey, O'Brien (Cummins 85), O'Halloran, Mulconry (O'Shea 74); Gaynor; O'Neill.
Referee: Dave McKeon (Dublin).