Bray Wanderers 2 Drogheda United 1
Saturday April 16 2011
Early goals from Danny O’Connor and Dane Massey proved crucial as a superior Bray side held off a late fightback from Drogheda United in the Carlisle Grounds last night, as Pat Devlin’s troops continue their ascension up the Airtricity Premier Division table.
The Seagulls had enjoyed a dream start to the game, as midfielder O’Connor scored on six minutes with a firm header from 12 yards after a cross from Dave Webster. And things would get even better for the Wicklow men just three minutes later when Massey found the back of the net with a glancing header from a supremely delivered Gary Dempsey free-kick on the right.
O’Connor, Chris Shields and Conor Murphy also had excellent chances to make it three for Bray, and only for the efforts of the outstanding Trimble, Drogheda may have been more than two goals behind at the break.
Bray maintained this pressure on the Louth side for the most part, and they almost added to their advantage on 67 minutes, but Shields’ shot from a tight angle came back off the post.
It looked like there was no way back for Drogheda until Darragh Hanaphy cut inside and finished low past Bray custodian Darren Quigley with his right-foot, but the home side held on for the points.
Bray Wanderers — Quigley; Webster, Mitchell, Prendergast, Massey; Mulroy (Zambra 87), O’Connor, Dempsey, Kelly (Houston 90); Murphy (O’Neill 76), Shields.
Drogheda United — Trimble; Nolan, Gannon, Ekanem, Whelan (McNally 46); C O’Brien (Flynn 57), Quigley, M O’Brien, Hand (McDonagh 46); Hanaphy, Freeman.
REF — R Rogers (Dublin).
Irish Independent