Soccer

Fox strikes late to force replay

Bray Wanderers 2 Kildare County 2:  There is little room for sentiment in football these days but even John Ryan would have …

Paul O'Hehir at the Carlisle Grounds
Sat May 27 2006 - 01:00

Bray Wanderers 2 Kildare County 2:  There is little room for sentiment in football these days but even John Ryan would have had mixed emotions had his team held out as they looked destined to do.

Bray's hat-trick hero from the 1990 FAI Cup final is now the Kildare manager and he looked set to pile further misery on Wanderers's season until, Stephen Fox headed home an equaliser four minutes into injury-time.

Had the unmarked Wesley Charles connected with David Tyrell's early corner Bray would have snatched an early lead and, on the basis of their enthusiastic start, progress to dictate for the remainder, but, ultimately, the chance was squandered and Kildare retaliated in ruthless fashion.

The visitors scored when goalkeeper Brendan Kennedy's kick-out, after 15 minutes, was flicked on by Alan Byrne and allowed Darren McKenna in on goal. Chris O'Connor was quickly off his line but failed to clear the danger as the two collided but the striker, although grounded, swung a leg at the loose ball and steered it to the empty net.

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The goal settled Kildare who became increasingly at ease with their surroundings. Bray saw more of the ball but Ryan's side were more calculating with what possession came their way. In fact, McKenna could have doubled his tally soon after but he skied his shot inside the box following David Scully's neat pass.

Bray, though, piled forward after the break and applied relentless pressure, forcing the Kildare rearguard to work overtime. And, after 66 minutes, Bray equalised when Colm Tresson rifled home from the edge of the area after the defence failed to clear Doyle's corner.

Kildare, though, were unfazed and retaliated when Stephen Cooling curled a superb free past O'Connor from 22 yards with 15 minutes remaining. But Fox struck late on to force a replay at Station Road on Monday.

Bray Wanderers: O'Connor; Gifford, Charles, McGovern, Keogh; James, Caffrey, Tresson, Tyrell; Fox, Zayed. Subs: Doyle for Tyrell (57), O'Brien for James (81), Byrne for Zayed (88). Booked: Charles (28), Keogh (74).

Kildare County: Kennedy; Mulcahy, P Byrne, Malone, Clancy; McCrossan, A Byrne, Cooling, Reilly; Scully, McKenna. Subs: Brazil for McCrossan (73), Slattery for Brazil (90). Booked: Byrne (19), Scully (65), Clancy (85)

Referee: D Hancock (Dublin)