Bohemians 0-0 Bray Wanderers
SSE Airtricity League Premier Division
By Jamie Moore at Dalymount Park
Bray Wanderers picked up their first point in five league games thanks to this draw at Dalymount Park on Friday night.
Harry Kenny's team had lost their previous four league games in a row, and amid their current financial stresses, this was a good point.
Having beaten Shamrock Rovers and Cork last weekend, Bohemians were unable to repeat the trick, and beat Bray for a third time this season.
Report
Bray almost went ahead in the 22nd minute through Mark Salmon.
His shot from 30 yards was set slip by Bohs’ goalkeeper Shane Supple , luckily for him, it dribbled wide of the post and out for a corner.
The best move of the first-half involved John Sullivan, Ryan Brennan and Darragh Noone, but Noone shot over under pressure from Rob Cornwall.
Bohs’ set piece expert Lorcan Fitzgerald disappointed with a free kick in the 33nd minute.
His effort hit the wall after Izzy Akinade had been fouled by former Bohs’ player Karl Moore, he should have done better.
Cornwall’s long throw then caused a problem in the Bray box, Brennan eventually headed it to safety and out for a corner
And then Tim Clancy did his best from a long throw at the other end, Sullivan’s shot bounced off Jason Marks and into Supple’s hands.
Pic: Bray Wanderers Manager Harry Kenny (Inpho)
Improved
We had hoped for a better second-half in front of 1,718 fans, unfortunately it didn’t come although things did improve.
Brennan and Buckley both forced Supple into easy saves while Fuad Sule’s cross was headed just over by Dano Byrne.
Sub Keith Ward also curled a shot into the stand behind the goal, a player of his quality should have done much better, it was Bohs’ best chance.
Akinade then headed Kavanagh’s cross over.
Even the introduction of Bray’s star man Gary McCabe, who started on the bench, failed to spark them into life, but it was their first point in five matches.
For Keith Long and Bohemians, seven points from matches against Shamrock Rovers, Cork City and Bray is an excellent return, they continue to look up the table with a ten point gap between them and the relegation zone.
Harry Kenny’s team remain fifth but have it all to do to achieve an automatic European spot, a spot they had occupied for much of the season.
Both teams will now switch their focus to the first round of the FAI Cup next weekend.
Bohemians: Shane Supple; Dylan Hayes, Rob Cornwall, Dan Byrne, Derek Pender; Gerogie Poynton (Ciaran O’Connor, 78), Fuad Sule, Oscar Brennan, Lorcan Fitzgerald (Paddy Kavanagh, 67); Izzy Akinade, Dinny Corcoran (Keith Ward, 55).
Bray Wanderers: Lee Steacy; Keith Buckley, Conor Kenna, Tim Clancy, Karl Moore; Mark Salmon, John Sullivan (Kevin Lynch, 87); Ryan Brennan, Darragh Noone (Gary McCabe, 68), Jason Marks (Ger Pender, 67); Aaron Greene.
Referee: Graham Kelly (Cork)
Attendance: 1,718
