Bray Wanderers end 17-game winless streak with Cobh Ramblers win
Bray Wanderers claimed a vital 2-1 victory at St. Colman’s Park on Sunday, ending a 17-game winless run in the SSE Airtricity League First Division. The Seagulls had endured a miserable week off the pitch, losing defender Jimmy Corcoran to a serious injury and facing the imminent exits of Cian Doyle and potential departures for Alain Kizenga and Richard Ferizaj. Yet on the field, they dug deep to secure a morale-boosting result.
Last time out, Bray were thrashed 6-0 by UCD, and the side that took the field against Cobh bore little resemblance to that side. Five changes were made, including the recall of Dan Ring from Shelbourne and the enforced absence of Corcoran, who ruptured his patellar tendon. The changes showed early as Cobh took the lead after 14 minutes through Anthony Adenopo, who capitalised on a miscued back-pass to beat Rian Hogan.
Bray fight back from early setback
Cobh nearly doubled their lead moments later when a Bray clearance fell to Adenopo inside the area, but he blazed over from an acute angle. The Seagulls finally found their feet in the 24th minute when Richard Ferizaj’s free-kick was diverted home by Jamie Duggan after Tyreik Sammy was fouled wide on the left. Bray should have added to their tally before half-time when Alain Kizenga’s through-ball found both Sammy and Kelly hesitating in the box, allowing the chance to slip away.
Early in the second period, Brian Linehan’s left-wing cross was partially cleared by Shane Griffin, but Kyle Tucker met the ball on the volley only to see it cannon off the post. Cobh’s ex-Bray midfielder Shane Griffin then delivered a 53rd-minute corner to the back post, but Adenopo headed wide. Bray kept probing, and Duggan nearly set up Sammy for a clear chance before the Cobh goalkeeper made a crucial save.
Ifu Achara’s dramatic late winner seals three points
The turning point arrived in the 80th minute when Ifu Achara latched onto a loose ball in the box and fired past Timo Martin to restore Bray’s lead. The visitors held firm in the closing minutes, with Rian Hogan making a crucial intervention to claw a Sammy header off the line in the 64th minute. Hogan then denied Griffin from the edge of the area as Bray held on for a hard-fought win.
The result ends a difficult spell for the Seagulls, who had lost their last two league games and failed to win at St. Colman’s Park since October 2023. With the transfer window looming and key players facing uncertain futures, this victory offers a rare lift as they push for a top-half finish in the First Division. Last result: Bray Wanderers 1-2 Waterford (2025-11-07). Recent form (last 5): 3W-0D-2L (LLWWW, most recent first).
