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Bray Wanderers 3 Sligo Rovers 1
Tuesday, 02 June 2009 09:09
Bray Wanderers eased their relegation worries to record their first win in five games and the first time they have scored three goals this season with a deserved victory over an understrength Sligo Rovers at the Carlisle Grounds last night.

Sligo started with just two players on the bench - defender Danny Keohane and reserve 'keeper Ciaran Kelly. International duty robbed boss Paul Cook of Benin sriker Romuald Boco while injuries meant he was without Stephen Parkhouse, Mauro Almeida, Sean Doherty and Chris Butler.

But Sligo who were the first to threaten on 18 minutes when a cross by Brian Cash on the right was headed goalwards by striker Steve Finney only to see his effort well blocked by Bray 'keeper Chris O'Connor. Then Richie Ryan was just off target with a long range effort as the visitors again pressed forward.

The Seagulls went close to breaking the deadlock when defender Dean Massey had a 20 yard effort deflected off Gavin Peers but straight into the arms of Sligo 'keeper Richard Brush.

But it was Sligo who had the upperhand in the sweltering conditions when a Cash ball put Rafael Cretaro in the clear only to be bundled over by defender Derek Foran. Dublin referee Tom Connolly waved away Sligo appeals for a penalty.

The game suddenly came to life when first Sligo took the lead on 36 minutes when a Conor O'Grady cross from the right was miscued by Cretaro. But the Tubbercurry man made no mistake with his second effort against a hesitant home defence when firing wide of the diving O'Connor from eight yards.

But Bray were level just two minutes later when a 35 yard effort from defender Daire Doyle took a cruel deflection off Slgo defender Danny Ventre giving 'keeper Brush no chance.

And the home side might have taken the lead seconds before the interval after a foul on Gary McCabe by O'Grady. But striker Jake Kelly's free  from 22 yards rebounded off the crossbar to safety.

Bray had a real chance to snatch the lead on 52 minutes only for midfielder Gareth Coughlan to blaze over the bar when well placed after Chris Shields had carved open the Rovers defence.

But Coughlan made no mistake on 55 minutes when this time shooting past the advancing Brush from 12 yards after clever midfield play between Darren Forsyth and Kelly.

Sligo were unlucky not to grab an equaliser on 80 minutes when an Owen Morrisey shot rebounded off the bar after Cash set up the chance.  But it was Bray who were to have final say in the second minute of added time when McCabe fired home a penalty after the same player had been taken down by Ventre in the box.

Bray Wanderers - O'Connor; Doyle, Foran, Webster, Massey; Coughlan (Mulroy 90), Shields, Brennan, McCabe; J. Kelly, Forsyth (Byrne 81).

Sligo Rovers - Brush; Keane, Peers, Ventre, Holmes, Cash, O'Grady, Ryan, Morrissey; Feeney (Keohane 78), Cretaro.

Referee - Tom Connolly (Dublin).

 
 
 
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