Quick-fire Bray take spoils in second half

Waterford Utd 1 Bray Wanderers 2:A two-goal blitz in as many minutes by Bray Wanderers, midway through the second half, turned this game at the RSC on its head and gave the visitors victory in a tie that was considered a "six pointer" by both managers.

The first goal arrived on 75 minutes when United defender Robbie Hedderman fouled Paul Dunphy just outside the area. David Tyrell floated the free across the goalmouth and Colm Tresson rose above everybody else to head powerfully to the net.

Then, less than two minutes later, the home side were rocked back on their heels when their defence was unhinged yet again. Stephen Fox dispossessed the unfortunate Hedderman and drew debutant goalkeeper Dean Delaney before steering the ball into the empty net.

United tried to play themselves back into the game and finally opened their account in the 92nd minute when substitute Robert Brosnan headed a Paul McCarthy cross past goalkeeper Steve Williams.

While the home side had a couple of scoring chances early on through McCarthy and Vinnie Sullivan, the visitors just about shaded the first half.

Bray continually beat the offside trap, especially down the left and Paul Caffrey got a shot on target but the angle was tight and Delaney saved well.

United almost went in front on 33 minutes when David Warren skilfully took down a high ball from David Breen just outside the area. He carried it forward and then unleashed a low drive that curled just wide.

Two minutes before half-time, Bray defender Gary Cronin whipped a dropping ball from Warren off the line and, a minute later, goalkeeper Williams, stranded on the 18-yard line, did well to get a hand to Sullivan's goal-bound lob.

United's McCarthy dribbled the ball past several defenders in the Bray area on 66 minutes before laying off for Sullivan, but his shot from eight yards cracked off the underside of the crossbar.

WATERFORD UNITED: Delaney, Flynn, Hedderman, Keely (Reynolds, half-time), Breen, Hayes, Cooling, McCarthy, Sullivan, Warren (Kavanagh, 76 mins), Harte (Brosnan, 83).

BRAY WANDERERS: Williams, Tresson, Cronin (Kenny, 87 mins), Derek Tyrell, Fox, Gough, Caffrey (Cawley, 55), David Tyrell, Deans, Duggan, Dunphy (O'Shea, 87).

Referee: D Tomney(Dublin).