Cobh can boost play-off chances away to Bray

Cobh Ramblers will look to strengthen their hold on their play-off position by taking all three points from their meeting with Bray Wanderers this evening at the Carlisle Grounds, kick-off 7:45pm.

Fran Rockett and his players will go into this tie fifth in the table, just two points away from their hosts who sit in sixth place.

The league is finally opening up with two groups starting to separate between those challenging and those looking to break into the top five, and Cobh have entered the play-off picture after a few weeks that has seen victories over Cork City, Treaty United, Kerry FC, and Finn Harps.

The squad were downed by UCD on Monday, a result that sent Will O’Connor’s side top of the league, so there’s plenty of work to do in a division where everyone is capable of getting a result.

Rockett is firmly focused on Bray, a team that were downed by Finn Harps on Monday in Donegal.

“It’s a big one – they are a very good side,” he said.

“They are going through a bit of a topsy-turvy time at the minute. Bray are still a very good side. We're coming off the back of a loss, they'll be coming off the back of a loss so it'll be an even enough game.

“They'll be going to try and right the wrongs of losing up in Finn Harps and that. Likewise we will too, so it'll be an interesting game. Yeah, I’m looking forward to it.” 

The Ramblers will travel to the seaside after losing 2-1 to a high flying UCD side that went to the Great Island on the back of a seven match unbeaten run. 

Cobh started well with Oran Crowe stinging the palms of Dara Kavanagh, and they managed to take the lead before the break when Rhys Brennan turned the ball in at the near post after Breandán Frahill knocked it on from a long throw.

Ciaran Behan equalised off a mistake by Garry Buckley and a squared pass was turned in for the winner off Frahill. 

The Ramblers did push for a late equaliser, an advance that came down to a cross turned shot by Callum Honohan going just wide in the 85th minute.

Rockett was disappointed, but admitted that the loss shows how far his side have come after rocky start to the campaign that included a 4-0 defeat to UCD at Belfield.

“There's progress and without a doubt there's progress but again there's a leap as well,” he said.

“I think at the start of the season we were missing players. I think that was probably a plausible reason as to why they did what they did in the original game or the first game away.

“For this one it was self-evident. It was self-inflicted in terms of us losing it and that's maybe the little bump we need to get over. 

"To be up there challenging because, there's no one in this league that bothers us. We kill ourselves sometimes over little silly details but we'll be back.” 

The Ramblers are hoping to bounce back against a Bray side that is seven games without a win, with this run of form including three defeats. 

The Seagulls did manage to get a scored draw off Cork City at the Carlisle Grounds, with Ifunanyachi Achara opening the scoring against the once league leaders.

This will be the second meeting between the two teams this season and it follows a 1-1 draw at St Colman’s Park last March. 

Jamie Duggan gave Bray the lead by turning in a quick free that had been crossed in from the right and Jason Abbott equalised after a Kai O’Neill shot grazed the hand of Achara.

The Ramblers were disappointed not to get something that night, and the squad has matured since given recent results. 

The group are also on the verge of finally playing their strongest team with Shane M. Griffin finally off a boot and running, while Cian Coleman works towards full fitness.

A win is needed in a league that is slowly splitting, as Cobh look to be in the play-offs at the midway point.