Drogs sink Seagulls in feisty encounter

Drogheda United recorded their second away win in a row when seeing off Bray Wanderers in a tense six-goal Premier Division encounter at the Carlisle Grounds last night.

The visitors had the perfect start when a cross from the right by Tiernan Mulvenna after just 32 seconds allowed midfielder Dean Marshall to get in a looping header past the despairing dive of Darren Quigley.

Stunned by that early setback, the home side went close to an equaliser when first Dane Massey had a header just over the top after a corner by Adam Hanlon on the left and then veteran striker Jason Byrne had a shot from 16 yards straight at ‘keeper Gabriel Gava.

Drogheda almost stretched their lead on 29 minutes when Peter Hynes crossed for Mulvenna, but the striker’s rushed shot allowed keeper Quigley scoop the ball from his feet.

Quigley again came to Bray’s rescue charging 40 yards out of goal to get in a vital tackle to deny Gavin Brennan.

Bray were forced to bring on substitute Daire Doyle in added time of the first half when central defender Adam Mitchell received a nasty head injury in a goalmouth scramble on the Drogheda six yard line.

The Seagulls were level on 51 minutes after Marty Waters appeared to be taken down inside the area by Alan McNally. It looked like a penalty, but to his credit Waters played on, got off the ground to square the ball for Byrne to fire home.

Drogheda had their noses in front when Brian Gannon shot home from 12 yards after clever build-up work between Peter Hynes and Shane Grimes. Then Bray had defender Dane Massey red-carded for deliberately stamping on Gannon.

Sean Brennan then stretched the Drogheda lead with a brilliant individual goal after waltzing past two home defenders on 71 minutes. Then three minutes later substitute Declan O’Brien added a fourth goal for Drogheda with a nonchalant finish after being set up by Sean Brennan.

Bray did have a second goal when Dean Zambra shot home a long range free past keeper Gabriel Gava on 78 minutes, but by then it was too little too late for the home side

BRAY W: D.Quigley; Webster, Mitchell (Doyle 45+4) , Massey, Houston (Houston) 74; Hanlon, D.O’Connor, Kelly (Last 45), Zambra; Waters, Byrne.

DROGHEDA UTD: Gava; S.Quigley, Prendergast, McNally, Gannon; G.Brennan, R.Brennan (M.O’Brien 83), Marshall M.Grimes; Hynes (D.O’Brien 67), Mulvenna (S.Brennan).

Referee:Padraig Sutton (Clare).