Waterford United 0 Bray Wanderers 0:Described by Waterford manager Gareth Cronin as a must win game, the Blues were unable to deliver the vital victory he demanded and Bray Wanderers will be much happier with a share of the points.
The first half was full of hustle and bustle from both sides but there was also an inordinate amount of scrappy play and the ball was aimlessly in the air for long periods.
The second period also failed to produce a score. Both sides had opportunities but neither goalkeeper was seriously troubled and, on a night that was crying out for even one spark of individual brilliance, nobody stepped up to the mark.
Early on, United went closest to scoring with Dave Mulcahy volleying wide on 10 minutes from long range and over the bar from close range on 13 minutes. An unsighted Bray goalkeeper Steve Williams did well to stop a stabbed shot from Vinnie Sullivan five minutes before the break.
Bray's Pat Kavanagh embarked on a great run from midfield towards the United goal on 57 minutes but he was crowded out by the defence and the ball was deflected out for a corner that was cleared. Three minutes later Alan Cawley unleashed a fierce shot from a free just outside the area but it whizzed inches wide of the near post.
WATERFORD UNITED: Delaney, Flynn, Hedderman, Brosnan, Breen, Scully, Mulcahy, McCarthy, Sullivan (Kiely, 62 minutes), Warren (Harte, 75 minutes), Bermingham (Kearney, 89 minutes). Substitutes not used: Lordan, Holden.
BRAY WANDERERS: Williams, Cronin, Delaney, Fox, Cawley, Georgescu (Broderick, 71 minutes), Caffrey, Kavanagh, Ivory, Hurley (Gough, 85 minutes), McCabe (O'Shea). Substitutes not used: O'Connor, Omwubiko.
Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin).
