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Bray Wanderers 1-2 Shamrock Rovers
Friday, 10 July 2009 09:12
Shamrock Rovers extended their unbeaten league record to nine games to move into second place in the Premier Division table as a 67th minute strike from top scorer Gary Twigg gave them a narrow victory over basement club Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds.

An understrength Bray, decimated by injuries and suspensions and now without a win in nine games, suffered a further set-back when striker Paul Byrne hobbled off with an ankle injury on 20 minutes to be replaced by substitute Jake Kelly.

But it was the Seagulls who came closest to snatching the lead just eight minutes later after a foul by Purcell on Stephen Brennan. The resulting free from 20 yards by Dave  Webster was brilliantly pushed away by diving Rovers 'keeper Barry Murphy.

Webster was again in the thick of the action when heading just wide of the target at the far post following a corner by Dane Massey on the right.

The Hoops should really have taken the lead on 35 minutes when skipper Shane Robinson took advantage of a slip by Daire Doyle to set up the chance for Twigg. But the normally so reliable Scot shot straight into the arms of 'keeper Chris O'Connor.

Defender Aidan Price fired over for Rovers after neat work between Robinson and Twigg. But Rovers were not to be denied and took a deserved lead on 42 minutes.

After a Derek Foran clearance, fellow defender Philip Knight miscued and striker Dessie Baker rifled home first-time from 22 yards for his fifth league goal of the season.

Battling Bray were level on 54 minutes when a long free by Massey on the left was fired home by Dave Mulcahy from close range despite the close attentions of Price.

But it was Rovers who grabbed a somewhat fortunate lead on 67 minutes when a harmless looking cross from the right from Stephen Rice was dropped by 'keeper O'Connor to allow Twigg to have the simple task of tapping home from ten yards. It was his 16th league goal of the season.

That led to the pitch-side celebration by happy Rovers supporters only for a 12 feet stretch of perimeter wall to collapse. The match was held up for half and hour as several young supporters received attention. The area was then made safe by Gardai, fire services  and security staff.

After that, the remaining minutes were something of an anticlimax with Rovers happy to play out for another vital three points.

But Bray did have a chance on 86 minutes when substitute Gareth Coughlan crossed for defender Kight to get in a header well taken by Hoops 'keeper Murphy. The final drama was reserved for added time when Hoops winger Sean O'Connor was shown the red card for dissent by Cork referee Anthony Buttimer.  

Bray Wanderers - C.O'Connor; Doyle (Coughlan 68), Foran, Webster, Knight; Pender, Brennan, D.O'Neill, Mulcahy, Massey; Byrne (Kelly 20), (S.O'Neill 45).     

Shamrock Rovers - Murphy; Flynn, Sives, Price, Bermingham; Purcell, Robinson, Rice, S.O'Connor; Baker (Cowan 81), Twigg.

Referee - Anthony Buttimer (Cork). 
 
 
 
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