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Abbotstown
13 Mar 2021

Wanderers recorded their first win of pre-season with this impressive victory over premier division Drogheda United at a windy Abbotstown this afternoon.

Wanderers went ahead after just seven minutes. Darren Craven played in Gary Shaw on the left and the striker scored low past Odumosa. Two minutes later, a Craven cross from the left was met by Ryan Graydon at the back post but the winger put his header wide when well placed.

Brian Maher had to be at his best when saving from Brandon Bermingham, with the keeper tipping the ball over the bar on 17 minutes. Conor Kane shot wide for Drogheda after coming in from the left on 28 minutes.

A minute later, Wanderers doubled their lead. Darren Craven picked up the ball in midfield and fed Shaw who laid the ball back to Craven and he scored low into the corner.

Chris Lyons had a chance for Drogheda on 35 minutes after James Brown pulled a ball back from the end line, but the ex-Wanderers striker’s shot was saved by Maher for a corner.

Five minutes into the second period, Brandon Kavanagh cut in from the right and fired a shot against the angle of post and crossbar. Darren Craven found himself with a clear run-on goal on 57 minutes, but his shot was smothered out by McCabe and a defender.

Drogheda pulled a goal back on the hour mark when Conor Kane’s cross from the left sailed over Brian Maher’s head and into the net.

But any hope of a Drogheda comeback was ended on 67 minutes when Mark Byrne’s long pass found Shaw and he controlled the ball before chipping over the advancing McCabe to restore Wanderers two goal lead. Brandon Kavanagh’s long range free kick on 70 minutes rebounded off the post.

Luka Lovic saw his shot deflected out for a corner on 77 minutes. From the resulting corner Wanderers were awarded a penalty. Gary Shaw fired the penalty straight down the centre which McCabe saved easily.

With ten minutes remaining, Kavanagh curled a shot in from the left which ended in the top right corner of the net for Wanderers fourth goal. In the final minute, Charlie Gallagher’s shot was saved by McCabe as Wanderers ran out easy winners.

Report by Michael Duffy

Bray Wanderers: 1 Brian Maher; 3 Dylan Barnett, 5 Aaron Barry (c), 14 Richie O'Farrell, 9 Mark Byrne, 8 Conor Clifford, 16 Darren Craven , 11 Brandon Kavanagh , 7 Ryan Graydon, 10 Gary Shaw
Subs: 4 Andrew Quinn, 12 Jonathan Leddy (for Shaw 80), 17 Luka Lovic (for O'Farrell H/T), 18 Seán Callan (for Jones 73), 21 Charlie Gallagher (for Barnett 80), 22 Steven Kinsella (for Graydon 73), 23 Glen Holywood, 24 Cian Maher, 25 Jack Ross (gk), 26 Joe Power (for Craven 80), 30 Kian Clarke (for Maher 73)
Drogheda United: 23 David Odumosu; 3 Conor Kane , 2 James Brown, 13 Dane Massey, 5 Daniel O'Reilly, 11 Jake Hyland (c), Gary Deegan, 15 Darragh Markey, 9 Chris Lyons, 16 Brandon Bermingham, 19 Ronan Murray
Subs: 1 Colin McCabe (for Odumuso H/T), 4 Jack Tuite (for O'Reilly 79), 6 Hugh Douglas (for Massey 79), 10 Dinny Corcoran (for Lyons H/T), Mohammad Boudiaf, 18 Killian Phillips (for Deegan H/T), 20 Jordan Adeyemo (for Bermingham 63), 21 Luke Heeney (for Hyland 63), Charles Mutawe (for Murray 81), Sam O'Brien