Details
Date | Time | League | Season |
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22 September 2023 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's First Division | 2023 |
Match Report
O’Malley Hands Wexford Win In Promotion Six Pointer
Cian O’Malley’s first goal for Wexford FC handed them a huge 2-1 win against Bray Wanderers at Ferrycarrig Park in a play off six pointer.
Bray began the game well, and their fast start in spite the cold temperatures nearly got them in front 15 minutes in when Jake Walker found himself with acres of space in the box, running onto a cut back from the right hand side, but his shot was hard and high, clearing the crossbar from 10 yards out when he really should have scored.
The game was void of any clear chances then right up until the 38th minute, when after a flicked on header by Mark Hanratty, Thomas Oluwa raced clear from the Bray backline and tucked the ball past keeper Matthew Conner with some ice cold composure as he put Wexford into the lead.
James Crawford whipped a wonderful cross right across the face of the Bray goal, but a stretching Hanratty couldn’t provide the touch to double Wexford’s lead only a couple of minutes later.
Hanratty had another chance five minutes into the second half, a deflected cross falling perfectly on the edge of the box for a volleyed strike on his favoured left foot, but he couldn't keep it down and it flew over the bar.
Hanratty was yet again the one to go closest next, carrying the ball across the Bray penalty area, and dug out a marvellous strike that only missed the top right corner by only a couple of inches.
Wexford seemed to be cruising but were caught out by a fantastic corner and a powerful run by Bray centre half Cole ‘’ who stooped low, right in the centre of the six yard box to head home an equaliser for the away side 68 minutes in.
Aaron Dobbs who had only just come into the match had a great chance at the backpost only a minute later, but despite being afforded an acre of space in the Bray box, Dobbs scuffed his effort wide of the post.
Wexford weren’t looking to take anything but three points from this fixture however, and on 79th minute it was Cian O’ Malley to be the hero for the Southeast side, rising highest at the near post to bullet a header in for Wexford from a corner of their own, leaving Conner helpless in the goal as the ball flashed past his head.
Wexford saw the game out to secure a massive three points, looking more and more secure in their playoff position every week. Bray will feel that's the end of their push for the top five for this season, lying now nine points behind tonights opponents.
Timeline
32' | Sean Quinn Jack Hudson | |
36' | 8. Harry Groome | |
9. Thomas Oluwa | 38' | |
58' | Yoyo Mahdy Chris Lyons | |
58' | Guillermo Almirall Conor Crowley | |
Mark Hanratty Aaron Dobbs | 68' | |
68' | 5. Cole Omorehiomwan | |
68' | Len O'Sullivan Thomas Morgan | |
12. Luka Lovic | 73' | |
75' | 19. Jake Walker | |
4. Cian O'Malley | 79' | |
Luka Lovic Danny Furlong | 80' | |
Darragh Levingston Corban Piper | 84' |
Past Meetings
(Round 23)
0 - 3LOI Men's First Division
Carlisle Grounds Bray Wanderers FC 0-3 Wexford FC |
(Round 13)
1 - 1LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park Wexford FC 1-1 Bray Wanderers FC |
(Round 6)
3 - 2LOI Men's First Division
Carlisle Grounds Bray Wanderers FC 3-2 Wexford FC |
(Round 33)
4 - 2LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park Wexford FC 4-2 Bray Wanderers |
(Round 22)
2 - 2LOI Men's First Division
Carlisle Grounds Bray Wanderers v Wexford FC |
(Round 14)
1 - 1LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park Wexford FC v Bray Wanderers |
(Round 7)
0 - 0LOI Men's First Division
Carlisle Grounds Bray Wanderers v Wexford FC |
(Series 27)
4 - 2LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park Wexford FC v Bray Wanderers |
(Series 18)
3 - 1LOI Men's First Division
Carlisle Grounds Bray Wanderers v Wexford FC |
(Series 9)
0 - 1LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park Wexford FC v Bray Wanderers |
(Series 11)
1 - 3LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park Wexford FC v Bray Wanderers |
(Series 2)
2 - 0LOI Men's First Division
Carlisle Grounds Bray Wanderers v Wexford FC |
1 - 3LOI Men's Premier Division
Ferrycarrig Park Wexford FC v Bray Wanderers FC |
3LOI Men's Premier Division
Carlisle Grounds Bray Wanderers FC v Wexford FC |
2LOI Men's Premier Division
Ferrycarrig Park Wexford FC v Bray Wanderers FC |
Ground
Ferrycarrig Park |
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Ferrycarrig Park, Kilpatrick, The Borough District of Wexford, County Wexford, Leinster, Y35 E296, Ireland |
There goes the full time whistle at Ferrycarrig Park, after a slow first half which saw Oluwa put Wexford ahead with one of the rare chances of the first period the game exploded into life in the second half and a metre half's headed goal from a corner each means that Wexford run out 2-1 winners in this exciting affair
Bray continue to look for an equaliser, they know a loss here is the end of their season. A header by Walker goes wide and they might not get another chance
Wexford look to see this game out with just the four minutes of added time remaining
Lyons spins on the edge of the area but his shot is too close to Mason who can gather to Wexford's relief
Huge last few minutes for Wexford if they can hold onto the three points
Wexford don't look comfortable at defending set pieces this second half, a few instances of pinball and Mason had to make a stop from substitute Lyons from close range to keep Wexford's lead
Cian O' Malley leads highest as Wexford reply with a goal from a corner of their own, a super run and finish at the front post to restore Wexford's lead
Walker next into the referees book
Lovic gets Wexford's first yellow of the game
Dobbs finds himself in space just moments after coming on at the backrest of the Bray goal, but his snapshot after controlling the ball on his chest is scuffed wide of the near post
A super Bray corner and poor Wexford defending allows Cole Omorehiomwan to stoop in to power a header into the net from only a couple of yards to to draw Bray level
Hanratty is down clutching his shoulder
Hanratty carries the ball along the edge of the Bray box and manages to dig out a brilliant strike that nearly finds the far top right corner, but it flies inches wide
Levingston runs clear and sticks the ball into the net, but is judged to have been offside and it stays 1-0
Super sustained attack by Wexford who have started this second half with intensity and quality
Admiral heads a clipped cross goalwards, but can't generate the power to trouble Mason in the Wexford net
A deflected cross from the left hand side falls perfectly for Hanratty on the edge of the area, but he can't keep his half volley under the crossbar and Bray escape that scare
Wexford interestingly continue to employ the long throws by Cian O'Malley this half, no joy from them so far.
Back underway now, can Wexford hang on or can Bray turn their fortunes and this game around tonight
Halftime here at Ferrycarrig Park, Thomas Oluwa managed to grab the sole goal of a tight half of football that gave up few chances. Bray need to rally in this second half as after a positive start they find themselves behind and looking vulnerable at the back to Wexford's speed in attack.
Super ball by Crawford that flashed across the Bray goalmouth, Hanratty was stretching desperately in the middle, but couldn't make the contact needed.
The game is quite open now as we had towards halftime, another goal doesn't seem to far away for either side
Oluwa bags to put Wexford into the lead! Hanratty flicks a header on over the top of a Bray defence that were totally switched off compared to Oluwa who was on the breaking ball in a flash, tucking it in low past Conner calmly
Harry Groome picks up the first yellow of the game after a heavy tackle on Boyle in the middle of the park
Quiet opening half hour in terms of chances here
Wexford have come back into the game, now a very even affair as both sides search for the opening goal
Really good start by Bray, they really have taken the game to the hosts and probably should be in the lead. Still, the performance so far should give the visitors a lot of confidence.
Another chance for Bray as Thompson is played into the box behind the defence, and from a tight angle whips the ball across the face of goal, any sort of touch and that surely would have been a goal.
Jake Walker comes onto the ball as its cut back across the Wexford box, but his shot is smashed well over the bar from ten yards out. The Bray man had so much time there, he really should have done better
Webb clips a ball down the line to the flying Oluwa who finds Levingston just outside the area, but his first time strike is straight at the Bray keeper Matthew Connor who claims with ease
Boyle is sloppy in possession inside his own box getting his pocket picked, the ball come out to Craven on the edge of the box for Bray but his shot is poor and wide
Bray have Wexford pushed back early, some good pressure by the away side to begin
We are off here, in the cold Wexford evening under the lights
Should be a tense evening of action in the Southeast, both teams know how much is on the line
Bray have been far less impressive as of late, one win in their last ten league matches is tough reading for a team that looked very promising in the early season
Wexford have been in excellent form as of late, seeing them maintain a spot in that treasured top five heading into the final stretch of the season
Only moments away here at Ferrycarrig Park in this crucial playoff matchup between Wexford Fc and Bray Wanderers