Utd keep a clean sheet but are still without win in league

Bray Wanderers 0

Mike Rafferty at Eamonn Deacy Park

ONLY the presence of new Galway United manager John Caulfield caused any ripple of excitement at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday evening as the home side plodded along to pick up a welcome point in this Airtricity First Division contest.

Due to the new Government regulations the stadium was devoid of people and atmosphere, but everyone in sight was trying to nab a quick word with the new boss as they wished him well in his new role. Caulfield did make a brief appearance in the dressing room before the game, but thereafter left the management of the side to caretaker Colin Fortune.

With almost half the squad unavailable through injury, he worked off almost the same 11 that were named in the selection for their previous game against Drogheda, with just Mikey Place in for Vinny Faherty the only change to the starting team

According to the Athlone native, one of his tasks during the week was to try and build up the players’ confidence as they were affected not only by their disappointing results, but also by the loss of manager Alan Murphy. A positive from the performance was just a second clean sheet of the season, while a late penalty claim could have changed the course of the game from a home point of view, but neither of the match officials who had clear views of proceeding made a positive call.

The home side made a sluggish start. Down the right, Callum Thompson was giving left full Timo Partheons a bit of a torrid time as Bray could have gone in at the break with the game put to bed. Thankfully, the performance of new custodian Matt Connor left a good impression as three top class saves in the opening half alone kept the game alive.

The pace and movement of Bray's front two, Joe Doyle and Gary Shaw, certainly tested the Galway rearguard, but after a shaky start they certainly rose to the challenge. Bray threatened an opener on nine minutes when Doyle got away, but a challenge by Maurice Nugent took some sting out of his shot as Connor saved. The same player evaded the cover shortly afterwards, but fired over before Connor continued to be the home side’s most impressive performer with fine stops to deny Shaw and Ryan Graydon.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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