Bray Wanderers 0-1 Bohemians
Adam Evans grabbed a second-half winner as Bohemians continued their bright start to the season with a third victory on the spin, beating Bray Wanderers 1-0 at the Carlisle Grounds.
Keith Long’s side dominated for long spells and finally got their reward in the 70th minute when winger Evans swept home Keith Buckley’s cross.
The victory keeps Bohemians top of the table on goal difference and sets up a mouth-watering clash with champions and joint league leaders Dundalk at Dalymount Park on Tuesday night.
Not surprisingly, given their bright start had brought two convincing wins, Bohemians boss Long fielded the same starting eleven for the third game running.
Opposing manager Alan Mathews also started an unchanged side as Bray searched for their first points of the season.
And it was Bohs who started positively in the sparkling early evening sun.
A mistake by the Bray defence let Buckley in with scarcely two minutes played. The ball broke for Evans with Wanderers right-back Michael Barker having to make a strong block before clearing the danger.
Bray were stretched again four minutes later on the counter, following their own corner.
Buckley put Evans away on the left and the lively 20-year-old skipped past a defender to run on and drill a shot just wide of the far post.
Bohs had the ball in the Bray net after 19 minutes but central defender Derek Prendergast was ruled offside as he shot home after a flick on from an Anto Murphy long throw.
The most incisive move of the first half almost brought dominant Bohs the lead on the half hour.
Derek Pender’s ball in form the right was set up by Dean Kelly for Kealan Dillon whose half-volley shaved the outside of Stephen McGuinness’ right-hand post.
And then Kelly really ought to have done better a minute before half-time when planting his unchallenged downward header from Evans’ cross well wide.
Bohs remained well on top in the second half with Lorcan Fitzgerald bringing a save, low down, from McGuinness with a left-foot drive four minutes in.
Bray skipper Alan McNally then had to clear off the line from a Prendergast header with Murphy blazing the rebound over the top.
The home side finally got their first sight of goal after 53 minutes. Dave Scully’s flick put Chris Lyons through, but the striker shot into the side netting.
But Bohemians remained well on top and got their deserved reward in the 70th minute.
Buckley’s low cross ran through to the back post where Evans arrived to side-foot the ball home.
Substitute Marc Griffin might have added to that seven minutes from time, but his low drive struck team-mate Paddy Kavanagh to deflect wide.
Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness; Michael Barker, Alan McNally, Daniel O’Reilly, Jack Memery; Dave Scully, Ryan McEvoy (Emeka Onwubiko 83), Graham Kelly, Luke Gallagher, Peter McGlynn (Adam Hanlon h/t); Chris Lyons (Peter Durrad 69).
Bohemians: Dean Delany; Derek Pender, Derek Prendergast, Anto Murphy, Lorcan Fitzgerald; Paddy Kavanagh, Roberto Lopes, Kealan Dillon (Robbie Creevy 59), Adam Evans (Karl Moore 90+2); Keith Buckley; Dean Kelly (Marc Griffin 79).
Referee: Rob Rogers (Dublin).
