Bray Wanderers 2 Bluebell United1: DESPITE BEING down to 10 men after just 23 minutes when midfielder Chris Shields was red-carded, Bray Wanderers earned themselves a place in the fourth round after a narrow victory over Leinster Senior League side Bluebell United at the Carlisle Grounds last night.

The Seagulls had a disaster start when first central defender Derek Foran was injured in the pre-match warm-up to be replaced in the starting line-up by Gareth Coughlan.

Then after just 12 minutes fellow defender Dave Webster had to limp off after shipping an ankle injury. Dave O’Neill came on as a substitute.

It got worse for Bray when they were then reduced to 10 men when Shields was sent off for retaliating after he had been fouled by Bluebell’s Niall Donnelly.

Keith Gallagher had done well in the Bluebell goal but there was nothing he could do about Bray’s opener on 65 minutes when striker Paul Byrne headed home after a corner by Dane Massey on the right.

After Aussie goalkeeper Chris O’Connor had taken down Gerard Bambrick in the area, Ciarán Quinn’s spot-kick was brilliantly saved by the diving O’Connor.

Bluebell were to rue that miss when Gary McCabe then shot home a penalty for the home side on 86 minutes after Byrne had been taken down by Connaughton.

Bluebell did have a consolation goal in the last minute when Andrew Cleary steered home a shot from close range after a corner on the left by Glen Keddy.

BRAY WANDERERS: O’Connor; Doyle (Massey 45), Mulcahy, Webster (D ONeill 12), Pender; Coughlan, Brennan, Shields, McCabe; Byrne, Kelly (S ONeill 62).

BLUEBELL UNITED: Gallagher; Killeen, Donnelly, Connaughton, Kenny: K Smith (Bambrick 68), Keddy, Holllingsworth, Loughran (A Cleary 87); Quinn, Dunning.

Referee: R Winter (Wicklow).