SEAN HOUSTON SCORED a brace against his former club, Bray Wanderers, as Finn Harps took a massive step towards Premier Division survival.
Finn Harps 2 Bray Wanderers 1
In a seismic night in the battle to avoid in the drop, Houston ensured that Harps move eight points clear of Wexford Youths with just four games remaining.
Harps were made sweat as Dean Kelly, a substitute, converted from close range in the 74th minute.
It is never straightforward on nights like this, but Navenny Street felt a happy place once again as Houston’s double gives Harps an advantage that will take some doing to blow at this late stage.
[adrotate group=”80″]They lived dangerously during five minutes of added time and, indeed, Harry Kenny’s Bray felt they should have had a penalty during those moments when Harps fans looked at their timepieces with their heads in their hands.
But as they go into the night, they’ve a spring in their step after a night that surely ensures Premier Division football will be back on Finnside in 2017.
The Letterkenny man struck on 12 and 67 minutes to seal Harps’ first win in eleven games – since Houston netted the winner against Galway in July.
[adrotate group=”85″]They took the lead when Houston – who has been Harps’ Player of the Year – managed to apply the finish after Adam Hanlon’s neat free-kick caused panic in the six-yard box.
Bray might’ve drawn level seven minutes later, but Ciaran Gallagher, back in the starting XI again, got his fingertips to a powerful header by Hugh Douglas, touching it onto the crossbar.
It was a warning shot for Harps and another arrived when a deep cross by Douglas dipped marginally too late.
Gallagher was included in one of three changes made by Horgan to the team that started Tuesday’s scoreless draw in Sligo.
Richard Brush, who was not in the Harps squad, Packie Mailey and the injured Ruairi Keating were those to miss out as captain Ciaran Coll returned from suspension and Curran was restored to the attack.
Peter Cherrie was called into action on the half-hour by Curran, whose smart turn brought with it a sight of goal, but Cherrie saved and gathered at the second attempt from the Harps striker’s shot.
Cherrie beat away an effort from Barry Molloy in first half stoppage time and the half ended with Horgan and his assistant, Paul Hegarty, seething as they claimed that a Bray defender made a clearance with his hand.
The calls fell on the deaf ears of the referee, Paul McLaughlin.
From the off, it was apparent that Harps were a side determined to put their recent woes behind them with a bright opening seeing Houston and Curran go close before Houston found a way in the 12th minute.
[adrotate group=”83″]Curran went even closer to putting Harps two up early in the second half, but he clipped onto the bar after Keith Cowan’s cross fell invitingly if a little awkardly just inside the box.
Houston got his and Harps’ second when he tucked home after Keith Cowan flicked Michael Funston’s delivery into his path.
With a two-goal lead to protect, Harps looked home and hosed, but they were made to earn the corn as Kelly breached them with 16 minutes remaining.
[adrotate group=”50″]Bray arrived in Ballybofey as one of the League’s form teams with five wins in a row, but Houston ensured that the form book went out the window.
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Ethan Boyle, Damien McNulty, Keith Cowan, Ciaran Coll; Michael Funston (Josh Mailey 69), Barry Molloy, Gareth Harkin, Adam Hanlon (Tony McNamee 84); Sean Houston; Ryan Curran (BJ Banda 90).
Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Hugh Douglas, Conor Kenna, Tim Clancy, Kevin Lynch; John Sullivan; Darragh Noone (Chris Lyons 84), Mark Salmon (Ryan Brennan 59), Karl Moore, Dylan Connolly; Ger Pender (Dean Kelly 59).
Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
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