Bray let it slip on debut

SOCCER SETANTA SPORTS CUP (First Round, First legs): Bray Wanderers 2 Glentoran 4: DESPITE TWO well-taken goals from striker…

SOCCER SETANTA SPORTS CUP (First Round, First legs): Bray Wanderers 2 Glentoran 4:DESPITE TWO well-taken goals from striker Kieran Marty Waters, Bray Wanderers' first appearance in the Setanta Sports Cup ended in defeat as Glentoran twice came from behind to win at the Carlisle Grounds courtesy of a brace from Leon Knight who was making his debut for the Belfast club.

Waters struck for the lead on 18 minutes, racing through onto Jonathan Kelty’s pass to take the ball around goalkeeper Elliott Morris and calmly slide it to the Northern Ireland side’s net.

Glentoran were level within a minute, though, when right winger Eamonn Murray’s drive from the edge of the area took a deflection to beat Darren Quigley.

The goal of the game restored Bray’s lead on 42 minutes. Captain Danny O’Connor and Adam Hanlon combined down the right to supply 21-year-old Waters who cut between two defenders to score with a left-foot shot that curled into the far corner.

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Knight equalised on 50 minutes before substitute Jim O’Hanlon put Glentoran in front for the first time nine minutes later, working a one-two with Knight to shoot confidently past Quigley.

Richard Clarke had a poorly struck 73rd minute penalty saved by Quigley after O’Hanlon had been tripped by Dave Webster.

Knight then put Glentoran in a comfortable position ahead of the second leg on 87 minutes, collecting a flick on to shoot to the net off a post.

BRAY WANDERERS:Quigley; Doyle, Mitchell, Webster, Massey; Hanlon, O'Connor (Knight, 73 mins), Houston (Kelly, 73 mins), Kelty (Zambra, 63 mins); Mulroy, Waters.

GLENTORAN: Morris; Ward, Nixon, Callacher, Hill (O‘Kane, 34 mins); E Murray (O‘Hanlon, half-time), Clarke, Howland (Martyn, half-time), Carson; Knight, Waterworth.

Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork).