SSE Airtricity First Division
Waterford FC -v- Bray Wanderers
Friday, 9th June 2023
Kick-Off: 7.45pm
Referee: Gavin Colfer
Waterford FC welcome Bray Wanderers to the RSC on Friday night looking to continue the recent run of form.
The Blues come into the game on the back of a 6-0 win over Kerry FC on Monday afternoon in Mounthawk Park. Four goals from Ronan Coughlan as well as a goal apiece from Roland Idowu and Barry Baggley secured three points for Keith Long’s side after Monday’s trip to the Kingdom.
That was the second win over the long weekend following Friday’s 7-0 win at home to Treaty United; a fifth consecutive clean sheet for the Blues, scoring 22 goals in the same period.
The Blues host Bray for the third time this season on Friday night, having met most recently in the Carlisle Grounds. A Ronan Coughlan double that day secured the spoils for the Blues having gone behind early through a Omorehiomwan goal on three minutes. The sides played out a 2-2 draw at the RSC; the visitors securing a draw after being behind at the break.
The visitors come into the game in 5th place, 14 points behind the Blues in second place.
From The Dugout: Speaking ahead of Friday’s match against Bray Wanderers, head coach Keith Long said:
“We were delighted with the result, the performance and the attitude of the players [v Kerry]. Once we got the first goal and got ahead, we never looked likely to concede. We got ahead at the break and then scored some more good goals in the second half to run out winners.
“Bray will be really tough opposition. They gave us a really tough game at the Carlisle Grounds and they’ve come to the RSC and taken a point already. They’re a well organised team and we know Ian [Ryan] will have a plan for how he wants them to play.
“We’re hoping to have Dean McMenamy back in the squad and Darragh Power is back now too [both after injury] so hopefully we can get a good performance and result on Friday to send us into the break with a positive result.”
Team News: Wassim Aouachria and Harvey Warren are expected to miss out again through injury. Dean McMenamy should return after injury.
