Sport

Gormley makes satisfactory start

Drogheda Utd - 1 Bray Wanderers - 1: Eddie Gormley marked his first game as manager of Bray Wanderers with a point at United…

Sat Sept 23 2006 - 01:00

Drogheda Utd - 1 Bray Wanderers - 1: Eddie Gormley marked his first game as manager of Bray Wanderers with a point at United Park last night.

But it was another disappointing outcome for Drogheda United, who are fast becoming the league's draw specialists. A late equaliser by the Premier Division's bottom side saw Paul Doolin's men draw for the third consecutive game. They have now won only one of their last eight matches.

With the home side a goal to the good and apparently cruising, central defender Jason Gavin turned the ball past his own goalkeeper, Dan Connor, to earn Bray an unexpected reprieve on 86 minutes.

Drogheda should have had the game sewn up by then, but their poor finishing cost them once again.

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Little happened in a mostly forgettable first half which saw Bray cope comfortably with anything the home side had to offer.

Former Bray striker Eamon Zayed tested Gary Rogers in the visitors' goal with a crisp drive from 25 yards early on. With the half hour mark approaching Drogheda went close to breaking the deadlock when Graham Gartland was on the end of Shane Robinson's corner from the right but he directed his header just over the bar.

Within minutes, Gartland turned provider for Zayed who somehow shot over from six yards when it appeared certain he would score.

Drogheda improved in the second half and went close to breaking the deadlock in the early stages through Shane Barrett, Declan O'Brien and Zayed.

Their pressure eventually paid dividends on 62 minutes when O'Brien powered a header to the net from Robinson's corner on the right.

Drogheda had chances to extend their lead as Zayed headed wide, Paul Keegan also failed to finish and O'Brien had the ball taken from his toe by defender Steven Gifford as he was about to strike on goal.

But Drogheda's inability to close games out this season came back to haunt them when they conceded the late equaliser.

Kieran O'Brien, on as a substitute only 60 seconds earlier, raced past defender Steven Gray on the right and crossed into the box where Gavin turned the ball into his own net for an equaliser which earned Bray an unlikely point.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Connor, Gray, Gavin, Gartland, Robinson, Whelan, O'Brien, Tyrrell, Zayed, Keegan, Barrett.

BRAY WANDERERS: Rogers, Tresson, Gifford, Deans, McGovern (O'Shea 50), Fox, Georgescu, Keogh (Ivory 70), O'Reilly, Caffrey, Tyrrell (O'Brien 85).

Referee: Ian Stokes (Dublin)