Soccer

Bohemians frustrated as Bray Wanderers hold firm

Goalkeeper Peter Cherrie pulls out stops to keep Dublin side at bay

Bohemian’s Ismahil Akinade reacts to missing a chance against Bray Wanderers. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Bohemian’s Ismahil Akinade reacts to missing a chance against Bray Wanderers. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Fri Jul 08 2016 - 22:15

Bohemians 0 Bray Wanderers 0

Bohemians were left frustrated by Peter Cherrie at Dalymount Park as the Bray Wanderers goalkeeper deprived them victory with a string of top stops, including a save-of-the-season contender.

A fourth win in five league games would have moved in-form Bohs into the top six for the first time this season. But Cherrie’s heroics, and poor finishing, earned Bray a third scoreless draw in four matches.

Bohemians dominated from the first whistle. Wanderers first had Cherrie to thank on three minutes as he raced from his line to save at the galloping Ismahil Akinade’s feet after the big Bohemians striker was played in by Keith Buckley.

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Negligent defending let Akinade in again 10 minutes later. This time he did shoot past the out-rushing Cherrie, but his effort found the side-netting.

The Akinade versus Cherrie contest continued on 17 minutes from Bohemians’ fifth corner of the game.

Amazing

Akinade met Kurtis Byrne’s delivery to arrow a firm header that looked destined for the top corner before Cherrie somehow clawed it out one-handed for an amazing save.

Bray grew into the game as the half wore on with Andrew Lewis finally having their first chance on 39 minutes when flicking a header from Dylan Connolly’s cross over the bar.

Bohemians maintained the pressure into the second half with Akinade and then Eoin Wearen curling efforts wide of Cherrie’s goal early on.

Bray remained a threat on the counter with skipper Ryan Brennan not far wide on 79 minutes with a shot from distance.

Cherrie then had the final say with two terrific saves late on. First the Scot touched Akinade’s shot round a post after he burst through from Mark Quigley pass. And Cherrie was there again three minutes from time to save with his feet when Ayman Ben Mohamed got through one-on-one.

BOHEMIANS: Delany; Hayes, Prendergast, D Byrne, Pender; P Kavanagh (Ben Mohamed, 66), Wearen (Quigley, 74), Lopes, K Byrne; Buckley; Akinade.

BRAY WANDERERS: Cherrie; McDonagh, Douglas, Clancy, Harding (Lynch, 58); Moore, Brennan, Sullivan, Connolly; Pender (Salmon, h-t), Lewis (Noone, 90+4).

Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin).