EA Sports Cup Report: Drogheda United 0 - 1 Bray Wanderers

A first half penalty from Drogheda native Ryan Brennan was enough to give Bray Wanderers a 1-0 victory in the first round of the EA Sports Cup at United Park.

It was Bray who looked the better team from the off and unsurprisingly had the first chance of the game.

A scramble in the Drogheda box following a Bray corner resulted in two shots drilled at goal by Bray players. However, Drogheda blocked both and eventually cleared the ball.

Bray took the lead from the penalty spot on 13 minutes after Lloyd Buckley was judged to have fouled Dylan Connolly. Brennan stepped up and fired the ball into the bottom corner past Coulter.

Bray continued to press and went close again with Jamie Aherne firing over the bar before Ryan Coulter produced a fingertip save to deny Darragh Noone.

Bray were awarded a second penalty on the half hour mark as Jamie Hollywood was harshly booked for a handball. Brennan again stepped up to take it but this time skied his effort high over the bar.

The second was largely a midfield battle with both sides struggling to create chances. Brennan went close on 68 minutes for Bray as Coulter palmed his effort from range over his bar for a corner.

Four minutes later man of the match Dylan Connolly broke, beat his man Conor Kane and continued his run into the box. His shot from inside the box was however, high and wide.

Drogheda never looked like getting back into the game and would have just one effort before full time as McCaffrey fired over the bar after the ball had been flicked down to him by Thomas Byrne following a superb cross from Conor Kane.

Drogheda United: Ryan Coulter; Conor Kane, Kevin Farragher, Lloyd Buckley (C) (Luke Gallagher 54), Eoghan Dempsey (Jake Hyland 82); Jamie Hollywood (Gareth McCaffrey 82), Ryan McEvoy, Shane Elworthy; Adam Wixted, Stephen Elliott, Thomas Byrne.

Subs not used: Dylan Sweeney (GK), Richie Purdy, Gavin Brennan, Mark Doyle.

Booked: Jamie Hollywood (29).

Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Keith Bucley, Conor Kenna (C), Derek Foran, Alan Kehoe; Jason Marks, Darragh Noone, Ryan Brennan, Dylan Connolly (John Sullivan 83); Ger Pender (Gary McCabe 88), Jamie Aherne (Mark Salmon 75).

Subs not used: Lee Steacy (GK), Hugh Douglas, Tim Clancy, Ryan Robinson.

Booked: Alan Kehoe (38).

Referee: Rob Harvey.

Attendance: 150 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Dylan Connolly (Bray Wanderers).