Buncrana man Mark Timlin bagged a debut goal as Finn Harps moved five points clear of the relegation zone with a superb win over Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds.
Bray Wanderers 2 Finn Harps 3
French striker Ibrahim Keita also bagged his first Harps goal, after the in-form Eddie Dsane (pictured above by North West News Pix) continued his hot streak with the opener.
On a week when Bray Wanderers’ bizarre press releases hit the headlines, it was Harps who made an impressive statement in front of 563 fans.
Ollie Horgan’s men were under the cosh a little after Aaron Greene pulled a goal back for ten-man Bray, but Keita – on the field less than a minute – glanced home from Ethan Boyle’s cross.
Harps had to endure a late onslaught after Ryan Brennan hammered home from the edge of the box after Harps didn’t deal with a Mark Salmon corner in the 87th minute.
Timlin, whose capture from Derry City was only confirmed by Harps this afternoon, netted from a free-kick on the stroke of half-time to double the Harps lead after Dsane put them in front.
A Caolan McAleer attempt was adjudged to have struck the hand of Bray defender Conor Kenna and Timlin’s left-footed free went through the parting in the wall and beyond the rooted-to-the-spot Cherrie – who was sent off for a 63rd minute foul on Dsane.
Harps opened the scoring from an incisive move in the 24th minute. Paddy McCourt – subject of intense transfer speculation this week linking the former Celtic star with a move to Sligo Rovers – again showed his worth.
McCourt’s magical pass around the back of Bray full-back Keith Buckley fed Dsane and the in-form striker fired in his third goal in four games.
Bray made Harps sweat for the last 20 minutes as Aaron Greene tucked home after a fine transfer from left to right between Karl Moore and Keith Buckley.
Ciaran Gallagher had to be at his best to turn away a stinging Brennan volley soon after as Bray sought a means of getting back into it.
In between the Harps goals, Bray should have been level in the 36th minute, but the spurned chance will surely haunt Anto Flood for some time. Flood was presented with a glorious opening at the far post by Brennan’s centre. Flood, somehow, failed to make a connection and Ethan Boyle miraculously cleared from beneath the crossbar.
Cherrie was shown a red card by referee Anthony Buttimer in the 63rd minute as he clattered into Dsane, who raced clear onto Caolan McAleer’s superb through ball. As Dsane skipped away, Cherrie took down the Harps attacker, meaning his record of 73 consecutive League appearances will be at an end next week.
Bray, who improved in the second half, cried foul when Ryan Brennan went down under Ciaran Gallagher’s challenge at the other end, but Buttimer dismissed their penalty claims.
Buncrana man Timlin came in for his first Harps start having been snapped up from Derry City this week. Timlin trained with Harps on Wednesday night and slotted straight into the side in one of three switches to the team that lost 2-0 to Derry City on Monday.
McCourt and Barry Molloy were restored with Gareth Harkin, Ibrahim Keita and Damien McNulty all dropping to the bench.
Harps began well and Dsane, with a bit more composure and conviction, might have given Harps the lead in the ninth minute. Sean Houston’s ball in played Dsane through, but the Londonder screwed his shot over the top.
Centre-back Kilian Cantwell shot at Cherrie after a long throw in from Boyle wasn’t cleared while a header from Boyle failed to trouble the Bray netminder soon after.
Harps had a real let off just before Dsane’s opener when Gallagher misjudged Kenna’s shot from outside the box. Fortunately for the Harps stopper, the effort wasn’t on target.
Bray lacked punch in the final third and a snapshot from Gary McCabe that flew off the head of Molloy was about as much as the Seagulls mustered in the opening half-an-hour.
The lively McAleer sped clear in a marauding run from deep, but rolled wide after slaloming through.
By the end, Harps fans were peering through their fingers, through five minutes of added time, but – with a game in hand, albeit against Cork City – Harps have five points to spare between them and the trapdoor.
Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Keith Buckley, Hugh Douglas (Tim Clancy 31), Conor Kenna, Karl Moore; Mark Salmon, Darragh Nooone; Ryan Brennan, Gary McCabe (Jason Marks half-time), Aaron Greene; Anto Flood (Lee Steacy 64).
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Ethan Boyle, Packie Mailey, Kilian Cantwell, Ciaran Coll; Barry Molloy (Gareth Harkin 79); Caolan McAleer, Paddy McCourt, Sean Houston, Mark Timlin (Jonny Bonner 73); Eddie Dsane (Ibrahim Keita 83).
Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Dublin).
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