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Soccer · Eircom League Cup

Bohemians 3-1 Bray Wanderers

Darren Mansaram's first goals for Bohemians eased them into round two of the eircom League Cup.

The former Sligo Rovers man bagged his brace as the home side did all the damage in the opening period at Dalymount Park.

The victory sets up a Dublin derby against Shelbourne next month at Tolka Park.

Although a Setanta Cup place for 2008 is on offer for the winners of the competition, the Gypsies made six change from their side that had beaten Sligo 1-0 last week while Wanderers drafted in five from the team who'd lost 2-0 to UCD.

One of them, Australian goalkeeper Chris O'Connor, was in inspired form in his first start of the season.

After just four minutes, he produced a wonderful claw out save from Mansaram's close range flick.

Soon after, the custodian parried a Chris Kingsberry header out for the corner.

He continued to thwart Bohs' by denying Mark Rossiter while Neal Fenn shot just wide from the edge of the box.

Stephen Hurley was narrowly off target for the visitors with a 20-yard volley before O'Connor's resistance was finally broken in the 29th minute.

Mansaram gathered in a Stephen Rice free, turned Ray Kenny and drilled low to the net left footed from 14-yards.

Alan Cawley headed just over the bar in the 35th minute before Mansaram doubled the Dubliners lead in the 43rd minute.

After creating space inside the box, Kingsberry miscued. The ball ran loose to Mansaram who sold a Chris Deans a dummy before coolly slotting past O'Connor from eight yards.

It got better for Sean Connor's men in first half injury time. Owen Heary's superb cross-field pass sent Kingsberry clear down the left wing. And the winger converted with a low shot through O'Connor's legs.

The Seagulls improved after the restart, with Cawley twice going close with free-kick's before substitute Paul Caffrey's 70th minute volley was tipped onto the crossbar by Lee Boyle.

Bray almost pulled one back in the 78th minute. From Caffrey's right wing cross, sub Stephen Fox span and hit a low effort that struck the foot of a post.

They were rewarded with a 90th minute consolation when Caffrey poked low under Boyle after beating the offside.

Bohemians: Boyle; Owen Heary, Burns, Pooley, Powell; Rossiter, Rice (Hunt 57 mins), Thomas Heary (Crowe 82 mins), Kingsberry (Singh 73 mins); Fenn, Mansaram.

Bray Wanderers: O'Connor; Ivory, Kenny, Deans, Cronin; Cawley, Hurley (Caffrey 70 mins), Gough, Duggan (McCabe 62 mins); Dunphy, Georgescu (Fox half time).

Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin).

 
Darren Mansaram was the match-winner for Bohemians
Darren Mansaram was the match-winner for Bohemians
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