Shane Griffin’s sweet strike seals win for Bray Wanderers over Finn Harps

Finn Harps 0

Shane Griffin and Bray Wanderers ensured there would be no hangover from Friday’s defeat to Cobh Ramblers as they returned to winning ways with a comfortable victory over Finn Harps on Monday.

Griffin missed the chance to fire Bray ahead from the spot as they bid to match a club record five wins in a row before going on to instead succumb to a 2-1 defeat in Cork.

But the Seagulls got back to winning ways thanks to an uncomplicated win over Harps which sees them leapfrog the Donegal side and climb to fourth.

It was a slow-burner to start with but Bray would soon begin increasing the temperature on Harps.

Wanderers vice-captain Darren Craven cracked off a daisy-cutter from 25 yards out that Conor Walsh was able to comfortably deal with.

The home side then had a penalty appeal turned down. Magerusan used his strength to hold off his man and allow him to lay it off to the on-rushing Kieran Cruise. The winger entered the penalty area but momentarily lost the ball. This allowed a Harps defender to nudge him off the ball. Cruise went to ground but referee Jason Moore didn’t give it a second glance.

Bray then showed some lovely skills inside the area and Harry Groome very cleverly chipped it across the area to the waiting Turley, but his volley flew 20 yards into the air and Harps dealt with it.

Magerusan was making himself a handful and he charged down the left flank and cut inside to go eye-to-eye with Walsh, but the shot-stopper smothered at the attacker’s feet.

Cruise was the latest to try and force the opener as he dangerously fizzed a shot across the face of goal on the half hour mark.

Midfielder Harry Groome showed sensational footwork to slalom past two defenders in the penalty area but his composure abandoned him somewhat for the finish as he drilled it towards the near post and a strong arm from Walsh managed to turn it behind.

Shane Griffin was operating in that free role just behind Magerusan and he found himself racing through on goal on 35 minutes. Not blessed by pace – Griffin thought it would be best to try and trick the covering defenders by cutting back, but he tripped over the ball and the chance evaporated.

Griffin made no mistake when present with his next chance. Max Murphy found Turley on the right flank and his centre was coolly dispatched to the roof of the net by Griffin from 12 yards.

With Harps offering no threat whatsoever in the first period, manager Darren Murphy understandably shook things up at the break as Sean O’Donnell, David Cawley and Success Edogun were all introduced.

Their presence certainly gave Bray more to think about and it saw Harps start the second period very brightly but the only chance they created was when Tony McNamee sprayed a lovely pass down the left that Patrick Ferry raced onto, but his effort was blocked by Stephen McGuinness.

Prior to that, Noe Baba almost cost his side when he dallied on the ball, and had it pinched off him by Cruise, but his strike caused Walsh no fuss.

With Harps more adventurous in the second period, it left holes at the back for Bray to expose. An exquisite flick from Magerusan freed Turley down the right flank. His cross then found Magerusan but his strike was partially blocked; making it an easy save for Walsh.

Turley and Magerusan linked again on 77 minutes as the former’s cross was met first time on the turn by the latter, but it flew over the bar much to his audible frustration.

Harps piled the pressure on in the final minutes, but this Bray side never looked like crumbling and it is back to winning ways for the Wanderers.

Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness; Max Murphy, Jamie Duggan, Paul Murphy, Evan Osam; Freddie Turley, Darren Craven, Harry Groome, Kieran Cruise; Shane Griffin; Cristian Magerusan. Subs: Guillermo Almirall for Turley (80); Zach Nolan for Cruise (81); Conor Knight for Magerusan (85). Not used: Ben Clark, Thomas Morgan, Zayd Abada, Philip Cooney.

Finn Harps: Conor Walsh; Jamie Watson, Noe Baba, Matthew Mackinson, Luke O’Brien; Darragh Coyle, Stephen Doherty; Patrick Ferry, Tony McNamee, Chris Lotefa; Max Johnston. Subs: Sean O’Donnell for Lotefa (H/T); David Cawley for Johnston (H/T); Success Edogun for Coyle (H/T); Ryan Rainey for Doherty (66); Mark Mbuli for Ferry (74). Not used: Tim-Oliver Hiemer, Shane McMonagle.

Referee: Jason Moore.

Venue: Carlisle Grounds, Bray.