Bray put and end to Drogheda’s unbeaten run

Drogheda United 0 Bray Wanderers 2

A much depleted Bray Wanderers ended Drogheda United's unbeaten streak with a well deserved 2-0 win at United Park.

Goals from Dave Scully and Shane O'Neill within three minutes saw manager Alan Mathews gain a rare win over his former side and see Bray register their second win of the campaign.

Both sides had their chances in an entertaining first-half. Former Drogheda player, David Cassidy volleying wide before Eric Foley forced a good save from Stephen McGuinness in the Bray goal, all inside 10 minutes.

On the half-hour mark Ishmail Akinade and Dave Scully combined on the run with the latter forcing a point-blank save from Dave Ryan.

Declan O'Brien should have made it eight goals for the season when he latched on to a Gavin Brennan flick-on but he dragged his shot across the face of goal.

Eleven minutes after the restart and the visitors hit the front, a Graham Kelly corner was spilled into the path of Dave Scully who hooked his shot into the open net.

Three minutes later and a long ball picked out Shane O’Neill, who expertly curled a shot past the goalkeeper from the corner of the 18-yard area to rock the Boynesiders.

Bray were content to hold their lead and, aided by the sensible McGuinness in goal, the Wicklow side dictated the pace of the game for the remaining 30 minutes.

Drogheda looked unusually bereft of ideas and despite introducing Philly Hughes late on the Boynesiders were unable to muster a comeback.

Drogheda United: Ryan; Grimes, McNally, McGuigan, Daly; Walshe, Foley (Holohan 70), Doyle (Maher 60), Brennan; O'Neill (Hughes 75), O'Brien.

Bray Wanderers: McGuinness; Cooney, Mitchell, Webster, Maloney; Scully, Kelly (Curran 85), Zambra, O'Neill (Brown 90+4); Cassidy, Akinade.