Finn Harps take another away draw as Bray Wanderers come from behind twice

Finn Harps picked up another draw on the road as they were twice pegged back by Bray Wanderers in the Carlisle Grounds.

Kevin McHugh’s side took the lead through a Conor Tourish header, his third goal of the season, and they led at the break.

But Bray made three substitutes at the break, and it paid off instantly as Sean Brennan curled an effort over Lorenzo Piaia just 45 seconds after the restart.

Temiloluwa Ajibola put the visitors ahead again as he flicked in from an Alex Fanle cross, but it was another substitute in Richard Ferizaj who levelled the game, and that’s how it would end as the Harps move down to seventh, four points off their opponents in second.

The hosts almost had an early goal after a cross was only cleared to Alain Kizenga, but the defender volleyed just over from the edge of the box.

Gavin McAteer, back in the starting lineup after coming on as a substitute on Friday, had an early dangerous cross held by James Corcoran, while his Republic of Ireland Under-19 teammate Billy O’Neill had a shot at the other end blocked down by a Harps defender.

The Harps took the lead on 18 minutes as Bernardo Monteiro was fouled 35 yards out and Joel Bradley-Walsh’s free kick found Conor Tourish at the front post, who flicked it in towards the near corner just out of reach of Corcoran.

Monteiro had an effort go over the bar soon after, while there was a lull in the match with few chances until nearing half-time, when Bray threatened from a couple of corners.

First, Ryan Kelly’s inswinger was pushed away by Piaia, and Ifunanyachi Achara’s bicycle kick rebound was saved by the Brazilian stopper for another corner.

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From that, the ball was cleared out to O’Neill on the edge of the box, and his shot had Piaia beat, but Tourish was on the line to deny the teenager.

The Harps should have been two ahead when Josh Cullen’s cross was met by Ajibolda, but he headed wide as it stayed 1-0 at the break.

Bray made three changes at half-time, and they had an immediate impact, first as Kizenga weaved in the box and laid it off to Sean Brennan, who curled an effort over Piaia and into the net, 45 seconds after being introduced.

That gave the hosts a boost, and they went close to taking the lead, first as Brennan had a shot deflected and saved, before Ferizaj hit the side netting.

The Harps freshened things up with Tony McNamee and Idir Zerrouk coming on, and both were just a metre away from getting onto the end of a McAteer low cross.

But the Harps retook the lead with a neat counter-attack as McAteer beat his man in the middle of the pitch. The 17-year-old played it out to Alex Fanle on the left, and his cross was met by Ajibola, who found the bottom right corner.

Kevin McHugh’s men defended a couple of balls in very well, but a ball into Ferizaj on the edge of the box saw him find space before curling an effort into the top left corner.

Ferizaj almost got another 30 seconds later from a Kizenga cross, but he volleyed over, while Brennan had a shot from distance parried by Piaia.

And with four minutes added, both teams launched a couple of balls into the box, with Ferizaj almost finding the net from a Kelly cross, but Joel Bradley-Walsh made a brilliant block to deny the teenager a winner.

Finn Harps got a late chance from a corner, but McNamee could only find the side netting at the back post as the sides shared the spoils.

Bray Wanderers: James Corcoran; Alain Kizenga, Mark Chidi, Ifunanyachi Achara (Sean Brennan ht), Declan Osagie, Aime Azende Nyembo, Ryan Kelly, Kyle Tucker (Daniel Ring ht), Ben McCormack, Billy O’Neill (Richard Ferizaj ht), Tyreik Sammy (Benjamin Fagbemi 83).

Finn Harps: Lorenzo Piaia; Josh Cullen, Joel Bradley-Walsh, Alex Fanle; Oran Brogan, Bernardo Monteiro (Tony McNamee 55), Adam McDaid (Max Johnston 66); Gavin McAteer, Nathan Lumingo (Idir Zerrouk 55), Temiloluwa Ajibola (Odhran McHugh 78).

Referee: Ryan Maher.