Finn Harps beaten by Bray Wanderers as poor run of form continues

Finn Harps’ inability to win stretched to four matches with their third loss in a row coming at the hands of Bray Wanderers/

Bray Wanderers 2-0 Finn Harps

Goals in either half by Dane Massey and Harry Groome ensured that Ian Ryan’s men picked up maximum points for the first time in over a month.

The Seagulls dominated the first half but Harps came back and asked big questions of the home side – hitting the woodwork – before a classy Groome strike killed off the Donegal men.

Completely against the run of play, Finn Harps stumbled upon the first chance. Ryan Flood screeched past Guillermo Almirall before fluffing his cross. But it was a happy accident; as it trickled into Seamus Keogh’s path. The attacker was denied by the legs of Alex Moody.

Harps’ brightest spark was undoubtedly Caoimhin Porter. He took a short pass off Tim-Oliver Hiemer before beating his man and whipping a diagonal pass cross-field for O’Donnell who was beaten to it by milliseconds by the outrushing Moody.

Wanderers took a deserved lead on 20 minutes. Ger Shortt delivered a corner kick from the right. From the back post, Ben Feeney headed it back across goal. And Dane Massey had time to take a touch before slamming home from four yards out.

Dave Rogers’ side wanted a penalty in the 23rd minute when O’Donnell drilled the ball back into the box following a cleared corner. Referee Daniel Murphy made them settle for a corner.

Eoin Farrell came to Bray’s rescue on the half hour mark. Flood and O’Donnell were breaking at a rapid pace and Flood was running into acres of free space beyond Farrell but the right-back got  a vital touch to O’Donnell’s pass to extinguish the danger.

Just 30 seconds into the second period, half-time sub Okwuy Okwute almost had the best kind of impact. Flood surged down the flank and fizzed in a low cross that Okwute got a toe to but he deflected it straight into Moody’s path.

The woodwork denied Harps next. Porter teased in a cross from the right and O’Donnell’s looping header came off both the crossbar and post before being hacked away.

Moments before O’Donnell’s close call, Davis had gone close from a free kick for Bray. He curled it

Harps replacement Michael Harris was slid in down the left on 74 minutes. He took perhaps one touch more than he needed to and it took him a tad wide – allowing Cole Omorehiomwan to block his eventual strike.

Seamus Keogh drilled an effort from the edge of the box with 15 minutes to go which Moody parried. It struck Groome and could have went anywhere but it bounced into the grateful arms of Moody.

And Bray wrapped up the three points in classy fashion. Groome won the ball in his own half and surged forward. He spread it to the left to Feeney who floated over a cross that Groome met crisply on the volley.

Bray Wanderers: Alex Moody; Eoin Farrell (Leon Ajala 87), Cole Omorehiomwan, Jack Hudson, Dane Massey; Guillermo Almirall (Darren Craven 8), Luka Lovic, Harry Groome; Ger Shortt (Dave Webster 87), Conor Davis (Callum Thompson 68), Ben Feeney.

Finn Harps: Tim-Oliver Hiemer; Daithi McCallion, Keith Cowan, Shane McMonagle (Kevin Jordan 90+1); Caoimhin Porter (Brendan McLaughlin (90+1), Katlego Mashigo, Noe Baba, Ryan Flood; Seamus Keogh; Filip Fjeldheim Da Silva (Okwuy Okwute H/T) (Michael Harris 71) Sean O’Donnell (Damian Duffy 76).

Referee: Daniel Murphy.