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United Park
28 February 2010

Chris Shields fires home Wanderers' second goal
Pic: Mick Tierney

Wanderers came from two goals down to level matters before going down to a late goal in their final pre-season game played at United Park in Drogheda.

Bray lost David O’Neill through injury after only six minutes after a bad foul.

Former Wanderer John Flood had a great chance to open his Drogheda account when he found himself clear through after Philip Higgins misjudged a long ball on 11 minutes. Flood fired past the left hand post and wide.

A minute later, Brian Kane saved well to deny Robbie Martyn.

Mick Daly then headed over a Brendan McGill corner on 13 minutes.

Wanderers' Shane O’Neill struck the crossbar after Shields had headed on after 17 minutes.

Kane then denied Flood again on 20 minutes after Glen Fitzpatrick had set him up for a strike on goal.

Two minutes later, Skinner was forced into a great save at his near post after Shane O’Neill’s strike from Jake Kelly’s cross on the right.

Drogheda began to get the upper hand and on the half hour Chris Shields superbly denied Martyn from opening the scoring with a diving header to clear away for a corner.

In attempting the saving header Shields collided with the post and was forced off for treatment.

Drogheda took advantage of the extra man and opened the scoring on 34 minutes when Daly fired home from the right of the area.

Two minutes before the interval Drogheda increased their lead when Brian King shot past Kane.

Bray started the second period well and Ian Tuohy broke through on the right on 50 minutes and fired past Skinner to reduce the deficit.

Bray were level on 58 minutes when Shields fired home with a low drive through a crowded penalty area.

Drogheda's sub keeper Paul Murphy then tipped Shane O’Neill’s drive over the crossbar on 76 minutes.

Drogheda were back in front on 83 minutes when McNamara fed substitute Jamie Duffy in on the left and he shot low under the advancing Kane.

Wanderers almost forced a draw in the final minute when Kelly crossed from the right and Dean Zambra fired inches over the Drogheda crossbar.

Michael Duffy

Bray Wanderers: 1 Brian Kane, 2 Daire Doyle (c), 3 Philip Knight, 4 Shane O’Connor, 5 Philip Higgins; 6 James Kavanagh, 7 David O’Neill, 8 Dean Zambra, 11 Ian Tuohy; 9 Shane O’Neill, 10 Jake Kelly
Subs: 12 Adam O’Connor, 14 Dean Barrett (for S O’Neill 87), 15 Nicky Byrne, 16 Chris Shields (for D O’Neill 6), 17 Andrei Georgescu, 18 John Mulroy (for Tuohy 74), 19 Marty Walters, 20 Colm Tresson, 25 Robert Lambert (gk)
Drogheda United: 1 Paul Skinner; 2 Corey Tracey, 3 Joe Hendrick, 15 Jamie Harris, 17 Brian King; 6 Eric McGill, 7 Brendan McGill¸ 16 Mick Daly, 9 Robbie Martyn; 18 Glen Fitzpatrick, 11 John Flood
Subs: Jamie Duffy (for Fitzpatrick 61), 10 Paul Crowley (for Daly H/T), 12 Eoghan O’Connor (for Tracey H/T), 13 Darragh McNamara (for Martyn 61), 14 Gareth O’Connor (for E McGill H/T), 23 Paul Murphy (for Skinner 72)