Bray Wanderers 3 - 0 Athlone Town

Bray Wanderers enjoyed a comfortable win over Athlone Town in tonight's League Cup tie at the Carlisle Grounds. Goals from Paul Dunphy, John Mulroy and Emeika Onwubiko secured Bray's passage into the next round.

Going into this match, both sides had failed to score a single goal in five games between them and the opening half an hour showed it. It was a tight, scrappy midfield battle with neither side creating any real openings. Athlone’s only chance of the half came after 19 minutes when Jason McCartney robbed the ball from Patrick Kavanagh just inside the Bray half. He moved forward before shooting straight into the arms of Chris O’Connor from 30 yards.

Bray broke the deadlock on 35 minutes with their first real effort. From a Ronan Ivory throw-in, John Mulroy knocked the ball down for Gary Cronin, who ran to the goal-line before cutting the ball back across goal for the unmarked Paul Dunphy to tap in from five yards out.

Bray started the second half in lively fashion and were 2-0 up after 52 minutes. Gary Cronin's in-swinging corner from the right was met by the impressive Mulroy who headed the ball over Kelly in the Athlone goal. Athlone's only chance of the second half came when McCartney hit a free-kick from the edge of the area. He lifted the ball over the wall but Bray keeper O'Connor was on hand to smother the ball at the near post.

After that effort, Bray assumed total control. Gary McCabe and Mulroy both went close for Bray before a tidy move down the left involving Derek Pender, Andrei Georgescu and Gary Cronin ended with Cronin hitting an effort just wide of the far post. In the 77th minute, sub Georgescu broke down the right-wing and crossed from the goal-line but Mulroy's deft flick went just wide of the far post with Kelly beaten.

On 84 minutes, Georgescu did well to control the ball following a long clearance by O’Connor. The striker controlled, turned and shot from 30 yards, only to see his effort go inches wide of the left-hand post. Bray sealed the victory in the dying moments. McCabe dribbled down the left-wing and into the box but his effort went straight across the face of goal. Paul Dunphy picked the ball up at the corner flag and played it back to Georgescu who crossed for Onwubiko. The second-half sub headed the ball into the far bottom corner to make it 3-0 with what proved to be the last kick of the game.

Bray now face Saint Patrick’s Athletic on Friday night in the league and manager Eddie Gormley will be delighted that his side have finally found the back of the net. Athlone Town now go three games without a goal as they prepare for their match away to Shelbourne on Friday night.

Bray Wanderers: Chris O'Connor; Derek Pender, Ronan Ivory, Kevin Doherty (Derek Foran 81), Ray Kenny; Paddy Kavanagh (Franco Georgescu 46), Gavin Whelan, Gary Cronin, Gary McCabe; John Mulroy, Paul Dunphy (Emeka Onwubiko '81).
Subs not used: Gavin McInerney, Stephen Lawless.

Athlone Town: Ciaran Kelly; Nigel Keady, Robbie Hamm, Jim Sheridan (David O‘Dowd 43), Des Hope; Philip Reilly, Levi Tierney, Anthony Hayes (Colm Jinks 72), Jason McCartney; Eric Lavine, Noel McGee (Padraig Moran 67).
Subs not used: Lee Gaffey, Carmine Russo.

Booked: Sheridan (21).

Referee: Declan Hanney.
Man of the Match: John Mulroy (Bray Wanderers).