League Report: Bray Wanderers 3 - 4 Wexford

Rory Merriman reports from the Carlisle Grounds

Upon returning to the Carlisle Grounds for the first time in over a month, the Seagulls succumbed to Wexford in a 4-3 goal fest.

After Bray scraped a 1-0 win in the Leinster Senior Cup in January, the two sides met once again tonight as they battled it out at the bottom of the table, both teams struggling to find form since the beginning of their seasons.

The Seagulls were the first to draw blood as Cristian Magerusan opened the scoring, sticking the ball passed an outstretched Owen Mason to put the home side ahead in the 9^th minute.

In a trice, down the other end of the field, a deft ball off the boot of Aaron Dobbs set up Wexford’s Mikie Rowe to level the scoring in the 11^th minute placing the ball in the back of the home net.

Within 18 minutes the Slaneysiders were ahead after Rowe added a second, cutting in from the right wing with a powerful strike just inside the box that Corcoran’s glove just couldn’t keep from crossing the line.

A fleeting lead that was equalised minutes later when an attack down the left wing from Bray’s Callum Thompson ended with a cross that deflected off the boot of Mark Hanratty for an own goal to bring things back level with.

True to form, an unwavering Wexford retrieved the lead in the 25^th minute when a looping cross met the head of Aaron Dobbs to make it three.

A five-goal first half came to a close with the youths leading at the break.

Central defender, Cole Omorehioman brought Bray back level early in the second half connecting his foot with the end of a corner kick, rifiling volley passed an upright Owen Mason who could only watch as the ball fizzed passed him.

Resolute in the second half, Wexford showed no signs of giving up keeping the pressure upfront, making life difficult for Cantwell and co in the home defence.

An attacking ball played through to Wexford substitute Thomas Oluwa saw him tip It passed an outstretched James Corcoran who left his foot out a millisecond too long, resulting in contact and Oluwa hitting the turf for a penalty in the 86^th minute.

In dramatic fashion, Oluwa struck gold in the top left corner, putting his side ahead for the third and last time of the match.

The final whistle echoed around an atmospheric Carlisle Grounds with a final scoreline that read 3-4 to the visitors.

Not the positive result Ian Ryan’s men were looking for in their 600^th home game in the league of Ireland. 

But it is a scoreline that will bring a wry smile to the face of James Keddy and his men on their bus back to Ferrycarraig with all three points.

Bray Wanderers: Jimmy Cororan; Max Murphy; Evan Osam; Killian Cantwell; Cole Omorehiomwan; Harry Groome; Cristian Magerusan (Ben Feeney, 46); Callum Thompson (Thomas Morgan, 89); Freddie Turley; Zach Nolan (Kieran Cruise, 72)

Subs not used: Stephen McGuinness; Guillermo Almirall; Paul Murphy.

Booked: Killian Cantwell (51); Freddie Turley (66); Max Murphy (67); Kieran Cruise (82)

Wexford: Owen Mason; Daragh Levingston (Luka Lovic, 72); Benjamin Lynch; Cian O’Malley; Ethan Boyle; Aaron Robinson (Thomas Oluwa, 63); Mikie Rowe; Kian Corbally (Brandon McCann, 86); Aaron Dobbs; Mark Hanratty; Reece Webb.

Subs: Alex Moddy, James Crawford, Carl Lennox; Cian Curtis, Oisin McDonagh, Robbie O’Toole.

Referee: Mark Moynihan.

Attendance: 1007.

extratime.com player of the match: Mikie Rowe (Wexford)

A great showing on and off the pitch pic.twitter.com/Vh8VOLs9lM

— CP Loch Garman (@WexfordFC) March 22, 2024