Cork City start well on the road to impressive win away to Bray Wanderers
Cork City's Cathal O'Sullivan in action at the Carlisle Grounds. Picture: Moya Nolan
CORK City continued to assert their dominance in the First Division as they recorded their fifth successive away victory at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday night. After last week’s impressive victory against Cobh Ramblers, it was yet another dominant performance by Tim Clancy’s side who stretched their lead at the top of the table to ten points as UCD could only manage a draw against Finn Harps.
Cian Bargary scored a brace for the visitors, while Cathal O’Sullivan continued his impressive maiden campaign by getting on the scoresheet. All of City’s three goals came in the opening 35 minutes as City put the game to bed before the half-time interval.
City made one change to the side that comfortably defeated Cobh Ramblers, with Cian Bargary replacing Jaden Umeh in the starting 11.
It took the Rebel Army just 39 seconds to go ahead in the game. Cian Murphy broke Bray’s offside trap before crossing to Cian Bargary who did well to adjust his body to head in from close range and give City the perfect start.
The visitors should have been further ahead four minutes later when Bargary’s cross evaded everyone and found Barry Coffey at the back-post. However, with the goal at his mercy, Coffey surprisingly blasted over.
Tim Clancy’s side did score their second in the ninth minute when Cathal O’Sullivan was quick to pounce on Max Murphy’s under-hit back-pass. The City player showed great anticipation to capitalise on the mistake and clinically finished beyond Stephen McGuinness.
Bray tried to play a high-press against their opponents which played right into the hands of City. The Rebel Army were excellent at playing through the press and found it very easy to get in behind the Bray defence.
Sean Murray attempted to outdo his wonder striker against Cobh last weekend when he acrobatically tried an overhead kick inside the penalty area but McGuinness managed to gather the effort.
Bargary put the game beyond doubt when he raced onto Murray’s flicked pass before half-volleying across McGuinness from just outside the penalty area.
City completely outclassed their opponents in the first half and showed their ruthlessness in front of goal.
It was a better start to the second half for Bray with Crisitian Magerusan curling an effort just wide of the post.
The Seagulls continue to try to get back into the game with Harry Groome forcing Brad Wade into making a stop.
Bray did get their goal when a low-driven cross was neatly gathered by substitute Guillermo Almirall, who calmly slotted past Wade. The goal had been coming as City were well off the pace in the second half.
Clancy’s men weren’t overly attacking in their play as they just tried to see out the game rather than go at a weak Bray defence.
Bray caused another moment of concern when Magerusan went close with a headed effort but Charlie Lyons did well to put him off.
McGuinness; P Murphy, Cruise (Almirall 46), Omorehimwan; M Murphy, Griffin, Groome, Turley (Knight 65), Craven, Osam (Nolan 46); Magerusan.
Wade; Crowley, Coleman, McLaughlin; Bolger (Crowe 65), Murray, Coffey (Brookwell 90); Bargary (Umeh 70), Murphy, O’Sullivan.
I O'Keeffe
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