Doyle’s late header gives Bray advantage over UCD in First Division play-off

Cian Doyle’s injury-time header handed Bray Wanderers a dramatic first-leg victory over UCD.

Cian Doyle of Bray Wanderers celebrates his winner against UCD. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

SSE Airtricity First Division: UCD 0 Bray Wanderers 1 

Cian Doyle snatched a last-gasp victory for Bray Wanderers at the Bowl in the first leg of the play-off semi-finals against UCD to give the Seagulls the advantage going into the second leg next Tuesday.

A Max Murphy free kick was glanced into the net by Doyle in the 94th minute, securing a pivotal advantage for Bray after what had been a scrappy game with little to separate the two sides.

Bray and UCD had an equal record against one another in the league coming into the game, with two wins apiece across the four fixtures, as well as history in the play-offs last season where the Wicklow side came out 2-1 winners across the two legs.

Hugh Smith got the first shot on goal in the 24th minute when a loose header fell to the UCD forward on the edge of the box but his shot was blocked by a lunging Alain Kinzenga.

The closest opportunity of the first half came in the 42nd minute for UCD, when a looping header at the back post was allowed to bounce and Adam Brennan rifled a volley that hit the woodwork before Bray scrambled the ball clear.

It took Bray until the 71st minute to carve out an obvious chance, when Cian Curtis had a near post effort snuffed out for a corner by Bray native Noah Douglas, deputising for the suspended Dara Kavanagh.

Only a few minutes later, the away side came even closer to the opener as Cian Doyle danced his way through UCD’s midfield before seeing his curling shot go just past the far post but he was to redeem himself with the winner 15 minutes later.

UCD: Douglas; Wells, Clancy, Osagie; McManus (Lennox half time); Verdon, McCullagh (Cailloce 56’), Behan, Jake Doyle (Dignam 89’), Adam Brennan, Smith (Finn 56’) 

BRAY WANDERERS: Corcoran; Kinzenga, Cantwell, Warren, Max Murphy; Bartley, Cian Doyle; Almirall (Conor Knight 64’), Rhys Knight (Sean Brennan 74’), Justin Ferizaj; Curtis (Richard Ferizaj 87’) 

Referee: Lucas Keating (Cork)