United have no answer to resurgent Bray

Bray Wanderers 4Galway United 0

Mike Rafferty

Throughout an Airtricity League campaign fraught with poverty and relegation troubles, the Galway United players and coaching staff have generally acquitted themselves reasonable well and on many occasions have rescued results from situations that were well beyond them.

However on Friday night at the Carlisle Grounds it was a case of going to the well just once too often as the home side struck home three second half goals to leave an embarrassing four goal margin between the sides at the final whistle.

A dubious penalty separated the teams at the break, as just three efforts were on target in an uneventful opening half that gave little indication of the total collapse that was to ensue on the resumption. 

Continuing a pattern, the second half saw very little goalmouth action until just before the hour mark when the impressive Bray winger Jake Kelly was instrumental in setting up the second and from there on it was all downhill for the visitors as two more smart counter attacking goals saw Bray score four for the first time this season, and inflict the heaviest defeat of the season on United.

To be fair to Bray they were unrecognisable from the side that took a number of hammerings throughout the campaign. A management change which saw Eddie Gormley  step aside to be replaced by his assistant Keith Long  and Director of Football Pat Devlin after just one win from their opening 21 games, has seen a quick return as they have now registered four more success from their last seven outings. 

The outcome is that they are now competing with Drogheda to avoid the automatic drop. Their recent results give every indication that they have a huge prize to play for and on current form it is the County Louth side that look the more likely contenders to be playing in the lower division next season.

However despite their impressive recent performances Bray were not four goals a better side. A more mature and physical side than the one that was easy meat throughout the campaign, the addition of a number of big strong players has made them more difficult to beat.  

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.