Rovers 2 Bray Wanderers 2

Rovers let a two goal advantage slip...

An exciting second-half saw the Hoops race into a two goal lead only to see the Wanderers fight back to take a point. The first half in comparison was a tame affair however Joseph Ndo almost got Rovers off to a flying start when he fired a free-kick from just outside the area against the crossbar after 3 minutes. Amond burst into the area on 8 minutes but tried to get around too many defenders.

Pender's shot, straight at Duggan, was Brays first real effort on goal after 11 minutes. Ger O'Brien was raiding down the right and his low cross in the 23rd minute was well taken by Gough. Rovers had all the possession but couldn't breach the visitors defence and Gough was able to deal with any crosses. A Sean O'Connor low cross to the back post almost fell to Maguire just before half-time.

The game changes in the second-half. Ndo ran at the defence on 49 minutes and the ball fell into the path of Amond who fired first time past Gough. Just two minutes later Duggan was called on to make a fine save, low to his right from a close range effort. An O'Brien free-kick fell to Doyle in the 54th minute but his shot clipped Gough before going narrowly wide. Amond then blasted wide from inside the box. The Hoops continued to pressure the visitors defence but despite a couple of good low crosses into the area the Bray defence held firm.

However a fine move in the 66th minute saw Doyle feed Madden on the left and his great cross into the box was met by the head of Amond to give Gough no chance for Rovers second goal. The Hoops barely had time to celebrate the goal when Bray livewire substitute Coughlan raced past Madden and fired a low shot from a tight angle past Duggan.

Bray were fired up after this goal and from a corner in the 72nd minute Rowe volleyed towards goal and firstly Danny O'Connor cleared off his own line before Sean O'Connor completed the double act to clear off the line as the ball was returned towards the Hoops goal. McGill almost put Amond through on goal after 77 minutes but Gough advance to clear. A minute later Rowe shot low but Duggan saved.

The Ref. awarded Bray a free-kick about 5 yards outside the box after Rowe looked like he fell over the ball under pressure. However Cawley stepped up to fire a curling shot into the top corner of the net and spark some wild celebrations. Purcell fired a shot well wide on 85 minutes before Ndo sent in a cross two minutes later that Sean O'Connor couldn't direct on goal. Maguire made a good defensive header 2 minutes from time as both sides went looking for the winner but in the end the points were shared.