Bray Wanderers enjoyed a hard fought victory in a tight affair over rivals Wexford last night, with a 1-0 win.
First Half
It was a cagey beginning to affairs at the Carlisle Grounds, with neither team really threatening in the opening fifteen minutes. It was Bray, whoever, who cranked up the pressure and began to find their flow.
Cian Curtis had the opportunity to open the scoring after 25 minutes, but his attempted backheel was too tame and easily gathered by Paul Martin in Wexford’s net.
It only took three more minutes for Curtis to net his fourth goal of the season, though. Newly crowned centurion Max Murphy threaded the ball through to Cian Curtis who was about 14 yards out, the striker showed brilliant movement in the box before letting off a brilliant strike to open the scoring for Paul Heffernan’s side.
It was all Bray after the opener, and 17 year old Billy O’Neill came close to doubling The Seasiders lead soon after, when his left footed effort struck the outside of the crossbar and bounced back into play.
Wexford started to get back into the game in the final ten, having the lion’s share of possession but The Slaneysiders failed to do much with it.
The Bray supporters were in fine voice as their side led 1-0 going into the break.
Second Half
The second half started just as the first, cagey and low quality. It was Wexford who dominated possession in the early parts of the second half, but they failed to create much in the way of chances, as the Wanderers defence held strong.
Wexford had the chance to equalise when they broke quickly on the counter attack and caught The Seagulls defence by suprise, Calum Flynn took his chance from the edge of the box, but he put too much on it and it flew over the Bray net.
It was nearly 2-0 to The Seasiders, when Paul Murphy got himself free from his man at a corner, and forced an excellent save out of Wexford shot stopper Martin.
The best chance of the game came late on for Wexford, when Mikie Rowe headed the ball towards goal from close range, but failed to test Jimmy Corcoran massively.
That would go on to be the last chance of the game for either side, and Bray Wanderers won the South East Derby for the first time this season.
Post Match Thoughts
It was not a memorable game, but a hard fought and highly contested game, just as you would expect a derby to be. Bray were the much better side in the first half and could’ve put Wexford to the sword but failed to do so. It was a completely different story in the second half, with Wexford dominating possession, it forced a very resilient side out of Bray, one that we have rarely had to see so far this season.
There was not a bad performance from a Bray player, but it was by far Paul Murphy’s best performance in a Bray Wanderers shirt. The centre back put a real shift in and prevented any danger from Mike Rowe.
MOTM: Paul Murphy
Heffernan’s side will welcome league leaders Dundalk to the Carlisle next Friday, where they will hope to make it three wins on the bounce.
Wexford will host bottom of the table Athlone Town at Ferrycarrig, the perfect opportunity for The Slaneysiders to get out of their slump.
Photo Credit: Paul Barrett