Sean Houston, Finn Harps.
Finn Harps 2-1 Bray Wanderers
SEAN Houston scored twice against his former club as Finn Harps defeated Bray Wanderers in Ballybofey tonight to collect their first win in eleven games.
Harps made an excellent start to the game and they went in front in the 12th minute, when Houston headed Adam Hanlon’s free-kick to the net.
It was the first time Harps had scored at Finn Park since Houston netted the winner against Galway United on July 8.
After a very poor opening, Bray came into the game and Ciaran Gallagher was forced into a fine stop from Hugh Douglas.
Harps led at the break and they began the second half well. They came desperately close to adding to their tally in the 50th minute, but Ryan Curran’s shot from the edge of the box hit the crossbar.
The home side doubled their lead in the 67th minute when Michael Funston delivered a long throw into the box, and Keith Cowan flicked on. Houston reacted quicker than his marker, and expertly fired into the bottom corner with his left foot.
That goal put Harps in a great position, but Bray responded well and seven minutes later, they equalised.
Gallagher completely missed Kevin Lynch’s cross from the left flank, and substitute Dean Kelly had the simple task of firing to the net from close range.
Bray pressed late on for an equaliser, and Kelly fired a shot over, before the visitors had a strong claim for a penalty when Dylan Connolly went down under a challenge from Ciaran Coll, but the referee Paul McLaughlin wasn’t interested.
Harps held on for victory, and with Wexford Youths losing 4-1 to St Patrick’s Athletic, the Ballybofey men are now eight points clear of the Relegation Play-Off spot with four games to go.
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