Derry City 0-0 Bray Wanderers
Derry City were unable to break down a stubborn Bray Wanderers in another forgettable scoreless draw at the Brandywell in the Airtricity League Premier Division.
In a game of few chances, the hosts could have won through Cillian Morrison midway through the second half, while Bray’s Adam Hanlon brought a brilliant save from Gerard Doherty in a rare attack from the visitors.
Derry ended the game with ten men when captain Ryan McBride was red carded for a high challenge on Chris Lyon and the game petered out after that.
Bray, on the back of two successive wins, came to the Brandywell to stifle Derry, with striker Emika Unmndiko was often the only player in green in the Derry half.
Unsurprisingly, it was the hosts asking all the questions but they had to wait until 18 minutes had passed before they could manage a shot on target - McEleney sending a left-footed effort straight into the arms of Stephen McGuinness from 15 yards.
Bray grew in confidence as the half came to an end and Ryan McEvoy sliced a shot from 30 yards well wide of Gerard Doherty’s goal.
But the visitors gave Derry a real scare moments later when, from their first corner, the ball went all the way to the back post where defender Hugh Douglas powered a header just wide.
The game was crying out for a goal and it should have arrived when McEleney’s corner was completely missed by McGuinness and Aaron Barry almost bundled the loose ball in, but he got his feet tangled and could only find the side-netting.
The game’s best chance came on 56 minutes and it was Bray who created a superb opening, with Peter McElynn finding Adam Hanlon who drove a fierce effort at the Derry goal, forcing Gerard Doherty into a brilliant save.
The match was finally beginning to deliver some excitement and Derry should have broken the deadlock on 63 minutes when Anthony Elding held up the ball brilliantly before playing Morrison in on goal. Morrison was one-on-one with McGuinness but again the Bray goalkeeper came out on top as he parried the shot away.
It looked like it wasn’t going to be Derry’s night when the ball somehow stayed out on 75 minutes. Another McEleney free kick into the area was flicked on by Aaron Barry, only for the ball to crash off the crossbar. The ball bounced down into the six yard box and Philip Lowry headed it in, only for an offside flag to curb the City celebrations.
Derry’s chances of grabbing a late winner suffered another blow on 84 minutes when captain Ryan McBride received a straight red card for a high challenge on Chris Lyons.
The home side remained the more adventurous team despite their disadvantage and they had a late penalty claim when Ryan Curran went down in the area, but referee Paul Tuite was unmoved.
Derry City: Gerard Doherty, Aaron Barry, Ryan McBride, Shane McEleney, Seamus Sharkey, Mark Timlin, Barry McNamee, Philip Lowry, Cillian Morrison (Ryan Curran 64’), Patrick McEleney, Anthony Elding (Sean Houston 90’).
Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness, Michael Barker, Daniel O’Reilly, Alan McNally, Hugh Douglas, Graham Kelly, David Cassidy, Ryan McEvoy, Peter McElynn (David Scully 78’), Emika Unmndiko (Chris Lyons 61’), Adam Hanlon (Gareth McDonagh 83’).
Referee: Paul Tuite
