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AUL
28 Jan 2022

It was very much a case of getting minutes in the legs for the players as Pat Devlin’s side continued pre-season preparations against Bohemians at the AUL Complex in Clonshaugh on Friday evening.

In a wind that played havoc with long balls, the air at least did not have the bite that one can expect from football in January. There were many changes from last week’s encounter with Shamrock Rovers, with no fewer than 23 players featuring.

Bohemians dominated possession in the first half, but solid defensive work meant that Mick Kelly’s goal was rarely troubled. Callum Thompson proved a willing runner down the flank, often pushing deep into enemy territory. Vilius Labutis also showed great confidence in midfield while Hugh Douglas and Seán Callan thwarted the Gypsies in defence.

The half time whistle saw a flurry of activity on both benches as Devlin and Keith Long looked to give as many players an opportunity to test the legs as possible.

With the strong wind now in their favour, the visitors did hold onto the ball better although neither keeper had much work to do. The sheer volume of changes no doubt contributed to neither team being able to establish themselves in the game. But with a tough start to the season ahead, match fitness will be key for the Wanderers. The stalemate did finally get broken just three minutes before the end when Canadian Kris Twardek received the ball from a throw-in on the far side. His cross shot took a significant deflection before sneaking past Kelly.

Report Kevin Dooney

Bray Wanderers: 1 Michael Kelly; 2 Daniel Blackbyrne, 3️ Kevin Knight, 4️ Hugh Douglas, 5️ Seán Callan, 6️ Conor Clifford, 7️ Callum Thompson, 8️ Vilius Labutis, 9 Rob Manley, 10 Kurtis Byrne, 1️1 Conor Knight
Subs: Ben Feeney (for Byrne H/T), Keith Dalton (for C Knight H/T), Karl Manahan (for Labutis H/T), Paul Fox (for Thompson H/T), Kieran Marty Waters (for Manley 63), Dean Zambra (for Clifford 63), Jack Hudson (for Callan 63), Zak O’Neill (for Blackbyrne 63), Dean Casey (for K Knight 75), Eoin Massey (for Fox 75), Darragh Lynch (for Feeney 75), Feeney (for Douglas 86), Ben Clark (for Kelly 88)
Bohemians: Tadhg Ryan, Max Murphy, Grant Horton, James Finnerty, Tyreke Wilson, Jordan Doherty, Dawson Devoy, Ali Coote, Liam Burt, Stephen Mallon, Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe
Subs: James Talbot, Enda Minogue, Ciaran Kelly (for Finnerty 30), Rory Feely (for Murphy 30), Conor Livingston (for Horton H/T), JJ McKiernan (for Devoy H/T), Jamie Mullins (for Mallon H/T), Kris Twardek (for Brut H/T) , Ryan Cassidy (for Coote H/T), Promise Omochere (for Uzokwe H/T), Trialist A (for Feely 75), Trialist B (for Doherty H/T)