Fagan keeps Pat’s on course

AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION:

Fagan’s goals came before the half-hour and having dominated for the opening half, Pat’s looked odds-on to add to their tally in the second half. But an improved Bray did better in the second period though they couldn’t break down a brilliant Pat’s back four.

Looking to bounce back from their defeat to Dundalk in their last game before the mid-season break, Pat’s had the perfect start when Fagan put them ahead on six minutes. Ian Bermingham was given the space to sweep in a cross from the left and Fagan was on hand to fire the ball past Bray goalkeeper Darren Quigley from inside the six-yard box.

Bray had an excellent chance to level the game on 16 minutes when Jason Byrne lost his marker on the left and put a wonderful low ball into the path of Kevin O’Connor on the edge of the penalty area. O’Connor got a shot in but could only direct the ball into the side netting.

Pat’s soon began to dominate and attacked the Bray goal at every opportunity. Shane McFaul’s header hit the crossbar on 24 minutes before Pat’s eventually doubled their lead on 28 minutes when Fagan got on the end of Ger O’Brien’s cross from deep on the right and fired past Quigley for his second goal of the night. Chris Forrester was the next Pat’s player to have an attempt on goal on 36 minutes following a glorious pass from John Russell but Quigley darted out and blocked with his legs to block what looked like a certain goal.

Fagan, Forrester and Conan Byrne all wreaked havoc in and around the Bray box after that but they couldn’t add to the scoresheet as the game reached half-time.

Pat’s goalkeeper Brendan Clarke had a quiet opening 45 minutes, thanks to that strong defence in front of him that blocked most of what Bray could muster in the way of goalmouth chances. However, Clarke was called into action five minutes after the break to deny Byrne who tried to catch him out with a cheeky back flick. Clarke saw the danger in time and made the save.

Having found the net twice, Fagan turned provider for Conan Byrne on 74 minutes with a pass from the right of the penalty area but Byrne’s subsequent header from inside the six-yard box flew high over the bar. Bray finished with 10 men after David Webster was sent off for a second bookable offence on 87 minutes.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Clarke; O’Brien, Browne, Kenna, Bermingham; Byrne, Russell (Gannon 81 mins), Bolger, McFaul (Maher 67 mins), Forrester; Fagan (Flood 75 mins).

BRAY WANDERERS: Quigley; Hyland (Mitchell 77 mins), Webster, S O’Connor, Knight; Akinade, K O’Connor (Earley 83 mins), Zambra, Waters; Mulroy, Byrne.

Referee: A Kelly (Cork).