A Lovely Day at the Seaside

We're still top of the league!! With an absolutetly huge match this Friday that is sure to draw the crowds this was a very important, if subdued win.

We headed off up the M8 at about a quarter past four. After more dire traffic at Mahon it was a breeze all the way up to Culahill. I must say, this is one thing that the government has actually got right, it's hugely reduced journey times and made away games so much more accessable.
The usual problem of Abbeyleix ensured we hit the M50 at about ten to 5, the worst time possible. An almost endless wave of traffic was being slowed by the inevitable roadworks that now dominate the ring road. We joined the long line of commuters heading from the capital back to the dormatory town, but thankfully at around 6 we had a chance to escape the car and take a look at the thriving metropolis that is the town of Bray.

Food was needed and at an un-named Italian chipper opposite the train station I forced down the worst 'fish and chips' I ever had. To be honest I couldn't tell the difference between the fish and the chips. Seaside food, pah! Although much entertainment was found in the antics of the taxi drivers in the station, who needs fancy pre match entertainment, all you need is a taxi rank overfilled!

Anyway, putting the fast food and taxi drivers behind us we entered the ground about an hour before kickoff. Upon arrival the ground was virtually empty but bit by bit the away end filled and once referee Tom Connolly blew for the start of the match we had the stand filled. After a bit of banter with Rico a minutes applause was held for Alan Kelly Sr. A fitting gesture to an excellent netminder and an honorary president of the Wanderers no less.

And so the game started, City have never gome out blazing this season and the trend was continued, most of the first 20 minutes were spent in the middle of the park. Denis Behan is much improved this season, fitter, faster and smarter then seasons gone by and he was the first to have a meaningful chance, his shot flashing past Chris O'Connor's post.

The Abbeyfeale native then drew first blood on 35 mins. His shot from all of 25 yards took a deflection off a Wanderers player and took one hop before nestling in the right hand corner of the net, 1-0 City, still top of the league and havin' a laugh!

Cillian Lordan tried an opportunist strike with O'Connor of his line but couldn't hit the target, Behan was again challenging the Australian native but he was upto the challenge. After the interval City were once again on top, Greg O'Halloran really have doubled the lead but his weak effort on the back post was the only blip in yet another fine display at centre back. Faz Kuduzovic drifted in and out of the game but did create two half chances, neither converted.

Colin Healy made it two, after a string of passes Guntars Siligalis did the only thing of note for the night with an excellently weighted through ball, that left the ex-Celtic man one on one with O'Connor. He showed composure in abundance when cooly rounding the Bray 'keeper and sliding the ball into the empty net. 2-0 and game over. Meanwhile reports were coming in of two scoreless games between Bohs and Drogs, and Derry and Rovers. We were cautiously celebrating a 5 point lead, then the news of Drogs going down to 10 men made us more nervous. The announcement of 4 minutes injury time didn't improve the mood and the inevitable happened in the last minute of the game. Mark Hughes giving the Gypsies the last gasp winner. While in the Brandywell the score didn't change up until the final whistle

So the trip home was the little bit faster with the 3 points in hand and please the holy sweet Jesus Christ above if we have a club (Which is most unlikely according to sources) there is the mouthwatering prospect of Bohs at home, a sell out perhaps?

Salut