Kelly rescues a point as Shels maintain unbeaten run

Bray Wanderers 1 Shelbourne 1

The Seagulls had two early chances when first veteran striker Jason Byrne set up a chance for Marty Waters only for the winger to blaze over from the edge of the box. Then Byrne had a header straight at ‘keeper Lee Murphy after a long range free by Dave Webster.

Shelbourne should really have taken the lead on 12 minutes when a perfect ball from Dean Kelly put Sean Brennan in the clear only for his effort from 14 yards to be blocked by the advancing goalkeeper, Darren Quigley.

Byrne was in the thick of the action again seconds before the interval when he connected first time after a glorious ball through the visitors defence by Gary Dempsey. But the shot was straight at Murphy.

But Byrne was not to be denied on 50 minutes when shooting home from close range for his 12th league goal of the season. A Dean Zambra free on the right was flicked on by John Mulroy and Byrne applied the vital finishing touch. Waters went close to adding a second on 58 minutes when collecting the ball in his own half before sprinting past the Shels’ defence. However, his shot from the edge of the box was brilliantly pushed round the post by the alert Murphy.

From the resulting corner by Zambra, the impressive Niall Cooney kneed his effort against the upright and inches wide.

Shelbourne were deservedly level on 76 minutes after a foul by Eoin Hyland on Hanlon. The resulting free by Brennan was whipped across goal to allow Kelly to send a glancing header into the corner of the net.

BRAY WANDERERS: Quigley; Hyland, Webster, Cooney, Early; Mulroy (Akinade 85), Zambra, Dempsey (Noble 85), O’Connor, Waters; Byrne.

SHELBOURNE: Murphy; Shortall (Cornwall 71), Ryan, Gartland, Flynn; Brennan, Cronin, Hurley (Gannon 71), Doyle (Andrews 85); Hanlon, Kelly.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin (Monaghan).