Bray Wanderers 0 Rovers 2

******* Eircom League Premier Division *******
Bray Wanderers 0

Shamrock Rovers 2
Purcell 8' 80'
Carlisle Grounds - Friday 6th April 2007

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On a glorious sunny evening in Bray the Hoops had the perfect tonic after Tuesdays defeat with a hard fought win thanks to a couple of goals from Tadhg Purcell. All in all this wasn't a great game and there wasn't much in the way of clearcut chances.

Rovers got the perfect start when Pender won possession in midfield and the ball fell nicely for Purcell to run into the area and slot the ball past the advancing Williams in the Bray goal. Rovers never built on this good start and were finding it difficult to get Pender or McGill down the line in the narrow confines of the Carlisle Grounds. Delaney had a chance for the home side in the 13th minute but he didn't make full contact with the ball and Murphy saved.

An O'Brien free-kick in the 23rd minute almost found Rowe at the back post and Purcell lost control of the ball when well placed at the edge of the area two minutes later. The Wanderers had another chance in the 26th minute but the Hoops defence cleared at the second attempt. Rowe turned well in the 40th minute but couldn't hit the target.

The Hoops improved a little in the second half and pinned Bray back for long periods without creating any clearcut openings. Two crosses in a minute from Pender and Rowe were well taken by Williams. In the 59th minute a Pender cross found Purcell and he turned well in the box but Gough got across to nick the ball away before he could shoot. Rovers were applying some pressure on the Bray defence and a Rowe header was just over from a Dave McGill free-kick in the 65th minute.

With 20 minutes remaining the home side started to attack the Hoops defence and Ferguson had to dive to head away a dangerous cross. Sub Georgescu then shot straight at Murphy from inside the area on 77 minutes.

The game was put beyond doubt with 10 minutes remaining when hesitancy from Gough allowed Purcell to gain possession and race into the area to steer the ball between Williams legs to score his and the Hoops second goal. Some good late defending from O'Brien, when he headed a goalbound effort over the crossbar, denied the home side a consolation goal.

Line-Out

1 Barry Murphy
2 Ger O'Brien
3 Robbie Clarke
4 Barry Ferguson
5 Ian Ryan
6 Tommy Barrett
7 Derek Pender
8 Eric McGill
9 Tadhg Purcell
10 Ger Rowe
11 Dave McGill


Substitutes :

13 Dave Cassidy for Pender 79'
14 Dave O'Connor
15 Jamie Duffy
16 Stephen O'Brien 17 Robbie Kelleher