Bray Wanderers boss Gary Cronin: 'Experience is a big thing in cup competitions'

Andrew Dempsey reports from the Carlisle Grounds

After three successive league wins, Bray Wanderers bowed out of the EA Sports Cup despite a battling performance against Premier Division Waterford at the Carlisle Grounds on Monday evening. 

Scott Twine’s opener proved to be enough for the Blues as his stunning free kick left the Seagulls shot-stopper Gabriel Sava stranded on his line after just fifteen minutes.

Speaking after the game, Bray manager Gary Cronin admitted that he was proud of his side’s performance despite elimination, with experience proving to be a key factor in the end. 

“Experience is a big thing in cup competitions. It’s something you have to manage but they’ve players who have played in Europe and are playing in the Premier Division.

“They’re a good side, a full-time outfit. Last year, we all know what happened in regards to Europe and while they aren’t in Europe this year they still finished in the European spots.

“We could’ve turned up here and lost three nil and everyone would have said we expected that, but I think we deserved a goal in that game, we created enough to deserve a goal, so it was unfortunate for us.

“Everyone will have their opinions on the way we try to play.” The former Longford Town assistant manager soon added.

“We’ve got to stick to what we believe in and in the players we have, and you need to have a good ground and pitch to do that.

“When I look back on the Wexford game in particular after the first half we came in at nil-all but some of our play and the way we used the ball was excellent.

“It doesn’t always go our way, as we saw with the goal against Wexford on Friday when we were trying to play out. As a manager you’ve got to accept those things when you’re playing out from the back.

“It’s a credit to everyone at the club, obviously with the Euros, (the pitch) has been in great condition and we’re reaping the rewards of it.”

Next up for the Seagulls is a trip to Cobh. Never an easy place to make the trip to, Cronin revealed that he is expecting a difficult encounter at St Colman’s Park. 

“It’s obviously a long trip. No matter what is happening down in Cobh, whether they’re going for the league or they’re having a poor season, it’s always tough.

“It was a really tough game when we played against them at the Carlisle and we managed to get a one-nil win in the end.

“They’ve beaten Shels there and have had some good results so we’re expecting a really tough game on Friday.”