Airtricity League Premier Division: Bray Wanderers 0 Derry City 0
Candystripes draw a blank in Bray
By Daire Walsh
Despite some good chances for both sides, Bray Wanderers and Derry
City had to settle for a share of the spoils in the Carlisle Grounds
last night, which
means that Derry City remain in fifth place in the Airtricity Premier
Division table.
Both sides were coming into this contest on the back of hard-earned
victories in the league last Friday evening, with Bray Wanderers
getting the better of
the high-flying St Patrick’s Athletic, while The Candystripes recorded
their first home victory since April with a 2-0 win over Bohemians at
the Brandywell.
However, it was the visitors who looked like they might have the
upper-hand heading into this game, as Kevin Deery was the only
absentee from Declan Devine’s
squad, whereas Bray had to plan withouts the services of injured
quintet Kevin Knight, Stephen Brennan, Dean Zambra, Adam Hanlon and
Adam Mitchell, as well
as the suspended Jason Byrne, who saw red in his side’s ill-tempered
encounter in Inchicore.
Yet, despite the depleted nature of The Seagulls side, and their
inconsistent form at home this season, Pat Devlin’s men actually
enjoyed the better of the
opening stages, as the ever-dangerous Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters flashed
just wide from the edge of the box with just two minutes gone on the
clock, and further
chance would arrive for the Wicklow side just seven minutes later when
John Mulroy rose to meet a Dave Webster cross from the right flank,
but City
shotstopper Gerard Doherty was on hand to tip his effort over the bar.
This was an early warning as to what Bray could offer, even though the
recalled Shane McEleney and Ryan McBride were keeping a tight reign at
the back for Derry.
As expected, Derry did settle into the proceedings as the half wore
on, and they had their first real opportunity of the contest after 14
minutes when the
raiding Simon Madden provided an excellent delivery for Stephen
McLaughlin, whose header flew just past Darren Quigley’s right-hand
post. This was a minor
let-off for Bray, but Madden was proving to be Derry’s best outlet
during the opening period, and he created another opening for Ruaidhri
Higgins on 25
minutes, who was unable to keep his subsequent effort off target from
a distance of 15 yards. Derry had certainly settled into the tie at
this point, but
clear-cut openings were proving to be few and far between as the half
drew to a close, and both teams had to be content with parity heading
into the second
period.
Derry supremo Devine would have been happy with the way that they had
finished the opening 45 minutes, and they looked bright upon the
resumption as well,
as Quigley was forced to gather a speculative shot three minutes after
the re-start, and they were also putting the Bray rearguard under
plenty of pressures
from set-pieces. Unfortunately for the visitors, they were lacking a
bit of cutting edge in attack, and there was always the danger that
they could be
caught on the break by Bray. Indeed, the always impressive Doherty had
to be at his best on 68 minutes to turn away a thundering strike from
John Mulroy,
as the play started to open up.
David McDaid was then denied a potential opener two minutes later when
his pop shot was deflected over thanks to excellent defensive work by
Dane Massey.
This would prove to be Derry’s last viable opportunity on the Bray
goal, as The Seagulls started to press for their second league victory
on the bounce.
However, despite some good pressure from Mulroy and Sean Houston in
the Bray midfield, the Derry defence managed to hold firm for a
hard-earned, and
thoroughly deserved, point.
MATCH STATS
BRAY WANDERERS: Quigley; S O’Connor, Webster, D O’Connor, Massey;
Doyle (Dixon 84), K O’Connor, Marshall (Akinade 66), Mulroy, Houston;
Waters (Earley 80).
Subs not used: Kane, Seery, Tresson.
DERRY CITY: Doherty; Madden, McBride, S McEleney (Greacen 76),
McCaffrey; Morrison (Curran 82), Higgins, Molloy, McLaughlin; McDaid,
P McEleney (Murphy 56).
Subs not used: Ferry, Duffy, McNamee, Rooney.
Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin).