Waterford United and Bray Wanderers shared the points in the eircom League Premier Division tonight as their clash at the RSC finished 1-1.
With a draw against Shelbourne under the belts from last week, Bray produced a lively display and looked like taking full points against new-look Waterford United thanks to a penalty goal from Eamon Zayed on 61.
But the Blues rocked the visitors back on their heels when they pulled a point out of the bag. With 93 minutes on the clock, substitute Darryl Kavanagh cut in from the right-hand sideline and skilfully lobbed goalkeeper Chris O'Connor from 25 yards.
Bray would have had the game wrapped up at that stage but for a string of excellent saves by United goalkeeper Jimmy Fyffe who produced a superb performance for the second week in succession.
United fullback John Hayes handled a shot from Robbie Doyle on the hour and was sent off by referee Tom Connolly who was in charge of his first Premier League fixture. Zayed, who has a habit of scoring against Waterford, made no mistake with a low, hard shot that sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Bray might well have gone further ahead on 74 minutes when Stephen Fox set up Zayed but, again, Fyffe was quickly off his line to smother the danger.
The exchanges in the first half, played in patches at breakneck speed, were just about even with both sides going close to opening their account on several occasions.
Bray were on top in the opening 20 minutes and Colm Tresson blazed over the bar from 16 yards after only 4 minutes. On ten minutes, Fyffe did well to turn a stinging, low shot from Robbie Doyle out for a corner.
The first real offensive from United came on 21 minutes and only a timely intervention by Ciaran Ryan prevented Paul McCarthy from converting a head-high cross by Darren Young.
Fyffe saved again from Zayed on 29 minutes while, at the other end, Stephen Grant released a blistering shot from 20 yards that shaved the outside of the near post with goalkeeper Chris O'Connor scrambling in vain to get a touch.
The best chance in the first half fell to Zayed on 36 minutes but, with the goal at his mercy, he failed to make clean contact with the ball.
Waterford United: Fyffe, Hayes, Young (Doyle 55 minutes), Deans, Lambarski, Chambers (Colfer, 78minutes), McCarthy, Grant, Hughes, Fraher, Poleczwak (Kavanagh, 66 minutes).
Bray Wanderers: O'Connor, Tresson, Gifford, Roche, McGovern, Fox, Ryan (D. Tyrell, 69 minutes), Keogh, Zayed (K. O'Brien, 93 minutes), Doyle, Caffrey (James, 86 minutes). Substitutes not used: Georgesci, W. Tyrell.
Referee: Tom Connolly, Dublin.
