Finn Harps 1-0 Bray Wanderers
Friday, 27 June 2008Finn Harps recorded their first home win since March as they defeated Bray Wanderers in an absorbing eircom League Premier Division clash at Finn Park.
With UCD losing to Cork City, this result means that Harps now climb out of the relegation zone.
Harps, without a win in their last four outings, began the brighter and forced three corners in the opening 15 minutes.
Veteran Declan Boyle headed over from a good position while Bray netminder Alan Gough was called upon to make early stops from Chris Breen and Conor Gethins.
Bray then had a real let-off on 28 minutes when a dreadful clearance from Derek Foran was snapped up by Kevin Ramsey but his shot was blocked by the legs of the increasingly busy Gough.
Harps made the breakthrough in the 34th minute when Mark Mukendi's free was flicked on by Stephen Parkhouse and Gethins deftly slipped the ball past the advancing goalkeeper to delight the home fans in the smallest crowd of the season.
The Ballybofey blues could have doubled their tally before the break when Chris Breen crossed from the right for Marc Brolly but his shot was some out kept out at the last moment by Gough.
Bray's only real chance of note before the interval fell to Gavin Whelan on the edge of the box after 20 minutes but he fired badly wide when he should have done better.
Harps continued to hold the upper hand in the second half and Gough had to deny both Breen and Ramsey while at the other end Alan Cawley was just wide with a thundering 25 yard free.
In an exciting finish Emeka Onwubiko had a goal for Bray disallowed for off-side and Ger Rowe hit the post for the visitors while Gethins spurned two great chances for Harps.
Finn Harps: Cullen, Roddy, Funston, Boyle, Mukendi, McGowan, Breen, Parkhouse, Ramsey, Gethins, Brolly. Subs: Bonner for Ramsey (85 mins), Gill for Breen (89 mins).
Bray Wanderers: Gough, Cronin, Foran, Whelan, Kavanagh, Cawley, Georgscu, Kenny, Dunphy, Pender, Rowe. Subs: Onwubiko 6 for Georgescu (57 mins), Coughlan for Dunphy (69 mins), Myler for Kavanagh (89 mins).
Referee: Mr. T. Connolly (Dublin).
