Kerry scalp makes it four wins from four for formidable Bray Wanderers

Kerry FC 0

Bray Wanderers proved that they really are formidable as they made it four wins in a row by overpowering Kerry FC on Friday evening.

The table still means very little at this early stage of the season but the sight of the Seagulls in third will definitely put smiles on the faces of Bray fans after their slow start to the campaign.

Cristian Magerusan was only too delighted to be on the pitch rather than the treatment room – bagging the opener just two minutes after coming on in the second period. And red-hot Peter Grogan wrapped up the points with his fourth goal in his last four games.

It was a very, very tepid first half. Neither side made any real threats on the opposition goal, but Bray’s quality shone through in the end with their options from the bench eventually proving telling.

Kieran Cruise scored the opener last week, but it was his defensive prowess that might have led to the first goal on Friday. He won the ball back deep inside his own half and launched a Bray counter-attack that resulted in Shane Griffin slotting through for Peter Grogan. The attacker’s cross/shot failed to trouble Antonio Tuta and was cleared by the Kerry defence.

Harry Groome liked to influence things in the final third for Bray, but he almost had a negative impact the other end on 16 minutes. He was too casual on the ball, and it was pinched off him by Sean McGrath. McGrath fed Victor Udeze who drove into the box, but his shot was thwarted by a superb sliding block from Kilian Cantwell who spared Groome’s blushes.

A Kerry corner kick led to the next opportunity. Sean O’Connell’s in-swinging left footer found Daire McCarthy – the deepest man in the area – but his header flew over from an acute angle.

Grogan had another sniff of goal in the first half. Evan Osam played the ball down the line and Cruise’s clever dummy took two Kerry men out of the game as it rolled to Grogan. He then twisted and turned his man as he entered the penalty area, but his low drive was gathered safely by Tuta at the second attempt.

Both managers made a change at the interval. Ryan Kelliher was thrust on as the central striker for Kerry whilst Cruise made way for Zach Nolan for the hosts.

Wanderers wanted a penalty in the 57th minute. Ethan Kos and Grogan competed for a header with the latter then going to ground and holding his head. Referee Robert Dowling allowed play to continue though, and it struck Andrew Spain. Grogan and co. screamed for a penalty but their appeals fell on deaf ears.

Ryan’s second roll of the dice saw him introduce Magerusan and it only took him two minutes to show his head coach what he was capable of. Bray attacked down the right and Sean O’Connell had initially dealt with the threat for Kerry, but Max Murphy re-delivered and Magerusan’s touch was subtle but did enough to divert it past the hapless Tuta.

The concession of the goal seemed to sap a lot of the fight and energy out of the visitors and Bray were only too happy to apply further misery.

Magerusan was played through on 79 minutes. His effort was blocked by Tuta but rebounded into the path of Grogan who wasn’t going to miss from six yards and has now scored in matches in a row for the Seagulls.

There were still 11 minutes for Kerry to do damage but that never looked likely. An assured and confident Bray defence dealt with their threat with the minimum of fuss.

Both Bray and Kerry face Cork opposition next; Bray travel to the Rebel County to take on Cobh Ramblers while Kerry face table-toppers Cork City.

Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness; Max Murphy, Kilian Cantwell, Paul Murphy, Evan Osam; Freddie Turley, Darren Craven, Harry Groome, Kieran Cruise; Shane Griffin; Peter Grogan. Subs: Zach Nolan for Cruise (H/T); Cristian Magerusan for Craven (67); Conor Knight for Turley (77); Guillermo Almirall for Grogan (86). Not used: Benjamin Clark, Jamie Duggan, Thomas Morgan, Rhys Knight.

Kerry FC: Antonio Tuta; Kevin Williams, Andrew Spain, Ethan Kos, Sean O’Connell; Sean McGrath, Daire McCarthy, Ronan Teahan; Nathan Gleeson, Victor Udeze, Kennedy Amechi. Subs: Ryan Kelliher for Udeze (H/T); Cian Brosnan for Amechi (67); Steven Healy for McCarthy (77). Not used: Aaron O’Sullivan, Jack Kavanagh, Valeri Dolia, Samuel Aladesanusi, Graham O’Reilly, Evison Rramani.

Referee: Robert Dowling.

Venue: Carlisle Grounds, Bray.