Brad Wade the hero as Cork City defeat Bray Wanderers at Turner’s Cross

Cork City 1 Bray Wanderers 0 

BRAD Wade was the hero as the goalkeeper made two incredible saves to ensure Cork City secured the win against Bray Wanderers at Turners Cross on Friday. 

It was a below-par performance from the Rebel Army who looked rusty after the mid-season break but luckily Wade was on top form on the night.

After a poor first-half performance City did improve in the second period but were fortunate to get all three points.

Tim Clancy made three changes to that side that comfortably defeated Cobh Ramblers 15 days previous with Barry Coffey, Malik Dijksteel and Josh Fitzpatrick coming into the team in place of Jack Doherty, Cian Bargary and Conor Drinan.

The visitors made a positive start. They were calm in possession and caused City problems. They were having a lot of joy down their right-hand side where Max Murphy’s willingness to get forward from full-back was forcing City back.

Wade denied Cristian Magerusan from scoring a wonder goal after the striker flicked Kieran Cruise’s cross towards the top corner which the City keeper did well to prevent from giving the away side the lead.

Most teams that have visited Turners Cross have had a game plan of playing with a low block against the league leaders but Bray pressed high against City and weren’t allowing the Rebel Army play out from the back.

Uncertainty at the back from Charlie Lyons allowed Darren Craven a sight on goal but the Bray attacker lacked composure in the crucial moment and his effort was clearly off the line by City captain Cian Coleman.

City did eventually start to find their way into the game as Bray’s early high-press faded. Greg Bolger, as he so often does, became the link between City’s defence and forward line. Cian Murphy was doing well for City with the striker managing to hold up whatever passes were played into him which allowed City to get higher up the pitch.

City’s joy was short-lived with Bray regaining control of the game. Although the Seagulls weren’t as fluent in their play as the early stages of the half, they still were the team in control of the game. The host struggled to string consecutive passes together. However, despite having the better of the match, Bray were creating very little.

Against the run of play, City took the lead two minutes before the half-time whistle when Bolger beautifully curled the ball over the head of Max Murphy into the path of Evan McLaughlin, who neatly controlled and dove the ball low across Stephen McGuiness into the net.

After being introduced as a substitute at half-time, Doherty almost made an instant impact when he managed to create space for himself just on the edge but shot straight at McGuiness.

Clancy must have had some strong words with his players during the half-time break because City were by far a better side in the second half. They were getting numbers up to support Murphy and Bray were struggling to get out of their own half.

Darragh Crowley was next to force McGuiness into action when he struck the ball cleanly from long-range but the Bray keeper was able to parry away.

Craven had the visitors’ first effort of the second half but once again Wade was on hand to deny the Bray player.

Murphy almost made it two goals in two games when he raced through on goal but from a tight angle, his dinked effort went wide of the post.

Wade once again showed his value to the side late on when he managed to claw out Magerusan’s header with most in the ground expecting to see the net ripple.

CORK CITY: Wade; Crowley, Coleman, Lyons, McLaughlin; Bolger, Murray (Doherty 46), Coffey; Fitzpatrick (Drinan 46), Murphy, Dijksteel (O’Sullivan 68).

BRAY: McGuinness; M Murphy, Cantwell, Almiral (Grogan 82)l, Cruise; Groome, Turley, Thompson, Nolan, Craven; Magerusan.

Referee: M Lynch.