Bray Wanderers aim for a third consecutive victory when they visit UCD at the Bowl on Friday evening. The Seagulls are in strong form, having won their last two matches without conceding a goal.
Ian Morris's side sit second in the First Division with 50 points from 32 games. They are 21 points behind leaders Cork City but have momentum from recent results. Their last outing was a 2-0 home win over Treaty United on September 18, with goals from E. Mustali and R. Ferizaj. The week before, a T. Sammy strike secured a 1-0 away win at Kerry.
Recent form favours visitors
Bray's recent form shows two wins, one draw, and two losses from their last five league games. Their defensive solidity in the last two fixtures provides a platform for the trip to Dublin.
UCD present a contrasting picture. The Students have lost four of their last five matches, conceding 13 goals in that difficult spell. Their most recent game was a heavy 5-1 defeat away to Cork City. The head-to-head record heavily favours Bray Wanderers, who have won the last three meetings. This includes a 6-0 victory at the Carlisle Grounds in July and a 4-3 win at the Bowl in May.
Team news and context
Bray's last starting lineup featured R. Hogan in goal behind a back line of D. Osagie, J. Duggan, D. O'Shea, and T. Sammy. The midfield and attack included B. McCormack, J. B. Sesay, A. Oluwabiyi, J. Ryan, R. Ferizaj, and E. Mustali. Top scorer M. Murphy, with eight goals this season, will be a key figure.
UCD's last selection saw D. Kavanagh start in goal, with players like S. Murphy, A. Wells, and N. Holohan in defence. Their recent struggles will be a concern for manager Andy Myler ahead of this fixture.
The match kicks off at 18:45 UTC on September 25. A win for Bray would stays in second place and maintain pressure at the top of the standings.
