David Cassidy hat-trick earns points for new Bray Wanderers manager

Sligo Rovers 1 Bray Wanderers 3

Maciej Tarnogrodzki celebrated his first game in charge of Bray Wanderers with a shock 3-1 defeat of misfiring Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds on Friday.

Captain David Cassidy scored a hat-trick on his return to the team, as both sides finished with 10 men. He was gifted the opener in the sixth minute, as a rash challenge from goalkeeper Ryan Coulter on the midfielder enabled him to hit the roof of the net from the penalty spot.

Straight red

Steven Beattie

responded for Rovers with a good finish inside the area on 17 minutes, and the visitors looked in trouble when

Adam Mitchell

was shown a straight red card for hauling down Dinny Corcoran on the edge of the area.

But they regrouped and went in ahead at the break through another Cassidy penalty, this time after Alan Keane held on to Ryan McEvoy in the area.

Rovers themselves were reduced to 10 men in the second half as Keith Ward – booked for arguing a decision with a referee's assistant in the first half – was shown a second yellow for heading the ball out of the hand of goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness on 52 minutes.

And with John Russell hitting the crossbar and Rovers missing a host of other chances, Bray sealed the win with Cassidy heading home his third from close range with 20 minutes left.

The win moved Bray ahead of Rovers in the table, with Owen Heary’s side still without a league win after six games.

Heary was making no excuses for his players.

He said: “I’m disgusted with the performance. Again we concede a goal within six minutes of the start of the game. We get back into it and then give away another silly penalty.

“We had plenty of chances then to get back into the game again, and we give away another goal on a counter-attack – it is just not acceptable.”

Tarnogrodzki was over the moon with the victory.

“The boys done very well in keeping our defensive shape. We have still things to improve upon in the footballing side of things, but we are very happy with the win.

“There was a bit of luck as well because Sligo had some good opportunities. But we took our chances.”

The new manager was boosted by the return from injury of Cassidy, and admitted he made all the difference.

“It was huge to have him available. You can see the quality he brings. He has taken his goals with real composure, and that is what his experience brings us.”

SLIGO: Coulter, Keane (Nielsen 61), Peers, Folan, Dykes, Beattie, Cawley, Russell, Devaney (Puri 65), Ward, Corcoran.

BRAY: McGuinness, Barker, Mitchell, Douglas, O'Reilly, Gallagher (McNally 41), McEvoy, Cassidy, Hanlon (Onwubiko 90), McGlynn, McDonagh (Lyons 70).

Referee: P Sutton.