Soccer

Trevor Croly off to flying start as Bray beat Saints

Peter McGlynn gives new manager a boost with 74th-minute winner

Bray Wanderers’ Peter McGlynn celebrates scoring his goal during the SSE Airtricity Premier Division match against Longford Town at the Carlisle Grounds. Photo: Dan Sheridan/Inpho
Bray Wanderers’ Peter McGlynn celebrates scoring his goal during the SSE Airtricity Premier Division match against Longford Town at the Carlisle Grounds. Photo: Dan Sheridan/Inpho
Paul Buttner
Sat May 16 2015 - 20:42

Bray Wanderers 1 St Patrick’s Athletic 0

A late winner from Peter McGlynn ensured new manager Trevor Croly got his Bray Wanderers revival off to the perfect start at the Carlisle Grounds.

Left winger McGlynn's 74th-minute cross was deflected past Brendan Clarke in the St Patrick's goal for the only strike of a lively game.

Substitute Emeka Onwubiko should have added a second for Bray two minutes from time but ballooned his shot over the bar.

It was a much needed boost for Bray following four heavy defeats and only their third clean sheet of the season.

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Conversely, the defeat ended St Patrick’s nine-match unbeaten run, while asking questions of their title aspirations.

Though St Patrick’s enjoyed good early possession, Bray should have been ahead from the game’s first opening on four minutes.

Chris Lyons got in behind to lay the ball off for Adam Hanlon who drilled his shot wide.

It nonetheless instilled Bray with confidence as they knocked the ball around purposefully.

St Patrick's needed a set-piece to threaten for the first time on 11 minutes; Killian Brennan forcing Stephen McGuinness into a smart tip over save from his free-kick.

Bray continued to pass the ball well, though, and created another very promising opening on 26 minutes.

The lively Lyons played a return pass to McGlynn whose stinging drive was brilliantly tipped over by Clarke.

In an end-to-end contest, St Patrick’s were close to the lead eight minutes later.

Ciaran Kilduff got on the end of Conan Byrne's hooked cross to bounce his header downwards and wide.

The diminutive Lyons was proving a right handful for the visitors' defence and he got in behind Sean Hoare on 43 minutes to whip over a dangerous low cross, though no team-mate was there to apply the vital touch.

At the other end, Bray defended doggedly with a posse of green shirts getting in the way to block a Byrne shot on the blow of the break.

St Patrick's had a bit more urgency to their game into the second half. Kilduff had a sight of goal four minutes in but just couldn't get enough purchase on his shot from an Aaron Greene cross, making it an easy gather for McGuinness.

Bray somehow survived a right scramble following a Byrne corner just past the hour mark with Hoare finally blazing over the bar.

Croly's side were under the cosh now and had another let off on 72 minutes. Substitute Morgan Langley's cross picked out Byrne in the area and he had two efforts bravely blocked by Adam Mitchell before Bray snatched their winner.

BRAY WANDERERS: McGuinness; Douglas, McNally, Mitchell, Barker; Hanlon, McEvoy, Kelly, McGlynn; Cassidy; Lyons (Omwubiko, 85).

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Clarke; McCormack, Hoare, Desmond, Bermingham; Chambers; Forrester (Langley, 67), Brennan (McGrath, 86); Byrne, Kilduff, Greene.

Referee: Padraigh Sutton (Clare)