Video
Details
Date | Time | League | Season |
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9 June 2023 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's First Division | 2023 |
Match Report
Two lighting quick goals in either half saw Waterford go into the break 6 games unbeaten, as they overcame a battling Bray side to win 3-1. A goal in the first minute of the first half from McMenamy and the second in the first minute of the second half from talisman Ronan Coughlan fired the home side to a comfortable win over the Wicklow side. Waterford have been lethal in front of goal lately and within a minute of the first half kicking off, they were at it again. The returning Dean McMenamy was found on the edge the box. He danced past a Bray defender before slotting past Stephen McGuinness into the bottom corner to put the Blues 1-0 up. Further chances followed for the likes of Ronan Coughlan and Roland Idowu, but the home side could not find a way past the experienced Bray keeper. The Seagulls kept plucking away and were rewarded in the 38th minute. Some sublime buildup play with one touch passes and movement resulted in Max Murphy clipping a cross to the back post. It was met but the looping head of Ben Feeney, who was also facing backwards to boot, and his effort found its way past Martin in the Waterford net to level for the away side going into the break. Bray’s horrible start to the first half was only matched by the start to the second. With only thirty seconds gone, a long ball split the Wanderers backline and found Parsons. He raced down the wing and then squared the ball to the league’s top goal scorer Ronan Coughlan who tapped home from 5 yards out to score his 24th of the season and restore the home sides lead. The away side only had themselves to blame for Waterford’s third. Cole Omorehiomwan played a sloppy pass into midfield which was intercepted by Idowu. He instantly played Coughlan through on goal who made no mistake, cooly slotting past McGuinness into the far-left corner. The Waterford talisman was denied his hattrick late on in the game when he met a cross with a strong header. McGuinness reacted well and turned it onto the crossbar from where it bounced out. The Blues go into the break now still 10 points behind Galway but in superb form while Bray will be licking their wounds with back-to-back losses.Coughlan doubles as Waterford catch Bray napping
Timeline
27. Dean McMenamy | 1' | |
19' | 15. Dave Webster | |
Dean McMenamy Thomas Oluwa |
23' | |
38' | 10. Ben Feeney | |
19. Ronan Coughlan | 46' | |
47' | 5. Cole Omorehiomwan | |
Shane Griffin Tunmise Sobowale |
63' | |
Connor Parsons Christopher Conn-Clarke |
64' | |
19. Ronan Coughlan | 66' | |
69' | Harry Groome Joe Power |
|
71' | Darren Craven Callum Thompson |
|
80' | Cole Omorehiomwan Jack Hudson |
|
80' | Chris Lyons Jake Walker |
|
Roland Idowu Dean Larkin |
82' |
Past Meetings
(Round 11)
1 - 2Carlisle Grounds Bray Wanderers FC 1-2 Waterford FC |
(Round 5)
2 - 2Regional Sports Centre Waterford FC 2-2 Bray Wanderers FC |
(Round 32)
0 - 3Carlisle Grounds Bray Wanderers 0-3 Waterford |
(Round 21)
1 - 0Regional Sports Centre Waterford v Bray Wanderers |
(Round 15)
1 - 4Carlisle Grounds Bray Wanderers v Waterford |
(Round 2)
1 - 0Regional Sports Centre Waterford v Bray Wanderers |
2 - 0Regional Sports Centre Waterford FC v Bray Wanderers FC |
0 - 0Carlisle Grounds Bray Wanderers FC v Waterford FC |
2 - 2Carlisle Grounds Bray Wanderers FC v Waterford FC |
3 - 0Regional Sports Centre Waterford FC v Bray Wanderers FC |
Ground
Regional Sports Centre |
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Waterford Regional Sports Centre, Inner Ring Road, Kilbarry, Waterford, County Waterford, Munster, X91 KT29, Ireland |
Full time and it's a win for the home side, the third in a row. Bray looked well below par in the second half especially and will be thankful the break is next up. Thanks for joining me this evening.
Really should be 4 for Waterford as Conn Clarke racing through on goal but his effort is well wide and well over. Coughlan despaires as he was free across the box for his hattrick.
Four minutes added on at the end here.
Coughlan denied his hat trick from a brilliant save from McGuinness who flicks the strikers header onto the bar and out. This followed some superb skill by Oluwa down the wing to beat two Bray defenders.
Third Waterford change with Larkin on for Idowu.
Double Bray sub as Hudson and Walker replace Omorehiomwan and Lyons.
Bray's second sub follows quickly with Thompson on for Craven.
Bray make their first change of the night and Power is on in place of Groome as they go hunting for a way back into this.
It's him again! Waterford have their third and Coughlan has his 25th. A cool, collected finish past McGuinness into the far corner puts Waterford 2 goals out of sight now.
The walking wounded out there for the home side, Parsons forced off to as Conn Clarke comes on in his place.
Second Waterford change sees Griffin, who hadn't been moving brilliantly, replaced by Sobowale.
Big chance for Bray to equalise again. Lyons drops deep and plays Craven in. The midfielder is on his weaker foot but still gets an effort off, Martin makes himself big and manages to scramble it away for a corner.
Bray being carved open by balls over the top with Oluwa the latest to have a chance as a result of one. McGuinness is yet again equal to it though.
Wow, a mirror image to the first half, Waterford score within seconds of the restart. A long ball is Bray's undoing once more, as Parsons raced clear. He squared the ball across the Coughlan who makes no mistake from five yards out to restore Waterford's lead. 2-1.
Back underway.
And that's the first half. Waterford will be fuming with themselves that it is 1-1 considering the chances they have had but Bray have battled well. Big second half coming up.
Just before the half time whistle, Bray pick up their second booking. Omorehiomwan enters the book with Waterford countering, he hacks down an attacker.
From nowhere, Bray equalise! It's a lovely team goal too, which culminates in Murphy clipping a cross from the byline. It finds Feeney who, while going backwards, flicks a header past Martin. 1-1.
First real sort of chance in the last 10 minutes as Coughlan's header is comfortably gathered by McGuinness. Game has gone into a bit of a lull as we approach half time.
McMenamy has tried to hobble on but he clearly was in some distress. He's now bbeen subbed off and on comes Oluwa in his place.
First booking of the game goes to Bray's Dave Webster, a foul on McMenamy produces it.
The chances are rolling in for the Blues as McMenemy gets an opportunity to get his second. A one two played with Coughlan and he is in behind but his left foot finish is dragged well wide.
Another big chance for Waterford to double their lead. A ball infield finds Coughlan who slips a lovely through ball into the path of Idowu. His second touch is poor and McGuinness is able to smother the ball away.
This feels like it could be a long night for Bray. A ball over the top finds Coughlan and his shot is cleared out by McGuinness with his feet for a corner.
Within a minute the home side take the lead! It's the returning Dean McMenamy who puts Waterford in front, a lovely finish into the bottom corner. 1-0 Waterford.
Underway here at the RSC.
In the previous two meetings between these sides, a draw in the reverse fixture at the RSC was then followed by a 2-1 win for Waterford at the Carlisle Grounds in April.
Two changes for the home side as O'Keeffe and McMenamy come in for Sobowale and Conn Clarke. As for Bray, they make a host of changes, firstly switching out their keeper as the more expericned McGuinness replaces Moody, Webster replaces the suspended Massey, Craven and Lyons are the other two replacements, in for Thompson and Davis.
Good evening and welcome to tonight's game at the RSC Centre between 2nd placed Waterford and playoff hopefuls Bray. Team news to follow.