Galway United 2-3 Bray Wanderers
Friday, 25 April 2008 22:20Ger Rowe snatched a dramatic winner for Bray Wanderers in a five-goal Terryland Park thriller.
Paddy Kavanagh's first half brace put Bray firmly in control, but Galway battled back after the break.
Stephen O'Flynn converted a penalty and Vinny Faherty added an equaliser as the locals drew level.
But Bray, who created several second half chances claimed a stoppage-time winner courtesy of Rowe.
Having only managed one point from seven games, Galway were under significant pressure to register a positive result against a Bray outfit that has been improving recently.
There has been a pleasing efficiency to Bray in the past few weeks as Eddie Gormley's charges have nicked seven points from their past three matches.
That industrious run ensured Wanderers trotted into the Dyke Road venue intent on climbing further up the League table.
Bray were emboldened by a smashing start that saw Paddy Kavanagh strike twice inside the first half hour.
Only 90 seconds had elapses when Kavanagh clipped the opener following Ger Rowe's assist.
The same duo were involved in Bray's second in the 30th minute as Rowe headed on Chris O'Connor's free-kick, and Kavanagh provided a crisp close-range finish.
Galway were struggling to fashion chances themselves, centre-half John Lester drilled a few range free-kick on target between the two goals, but O'Connor gathered safely.
Galway improved after the interval halving the deficit in the 47th minute when Stephen O'Flynn rolled a penalty into the bottom corner following Derek Pender's foul on Derek O'Brien.
Further chances were created by both teams before Vinny Faherty netted an ice-cool equaliser.
Still, Bray managed to net in a hectic finale as Rowe emerged as the Wanderers hero.
Galway United: Rogers; Nootimer, Fitzgerald, Lester (Synott, 41), McCulloch; O'Shea, Fenn, Deegan, O'Brien; O'Flynn (Leech, 66), Faherty (Molloy, 88).
Bray Wanderers: O'Connor; Pender, Doherty, Foran (Kenny, 54), Cronin; Whelan, Tresson, Cawley, Duggan (McCabe, 73); Kavanagh, Rowe (Dunphy, 90).
Referee: D Tomney (Dublin).
