Finn Harps suffer disappointing home defeat against Bray Wanderers

Finn Harps suffered a disappointing defeat - their fourth loss on the spin - to Bray Wanderers at Finn Park on Friday night.

John O'Sullivan and Guillermo Almirall netted in either half for Bray. Jamie Watson had levelled for Harps late in the first half, but Almirall's 67^th minute goal proved to be the winner.

The battle for the play-off spots is really hotting up in the First Division with only nine points separating the five teams from Bray in fourth to Treaty in eighth.

Bray hit the front in the 25th minute. Max Murphy drew a wonderful save from the fingertips of home 'keeper Tim Hiemer, who pushed the ball – which had seemed destined for the bottom corner – out behind.

Murphy's corner was flicked onto the goal frame by former Harps defender Killian Cantwell and O'Sullivan – the 18-year-old debutant on loan from Shamrock Rovers – forced home from close range.

Harps called offside, but the flag of assistant referee Conor Harkin awarded the goal.

Four minutes before half-time, Watson shot home with his left foot, beating James Corcoran with a good finish from 18 yards for the Scottish full-back's second goal of the season.

Disaster struck, though, when Almirall pounced to restore the lead for the Seagulls and Harps were unable to claw back.

The game was preceded by a minute's silence in memory of the late Patrick Breen, the former Finn Harps club president and fundraiser extraordinaire who was laid to rest on Monday.

Harps were back on home turf after a run of three away games that saw successive 1-0 defeats at Cork City twice – one of which was in the FAI Senior Cup – and Treaty United.

Harps boss Darren Murphy made three changes to his side with Max Hutchison, Noe Baba and Max Johnston all restored to the starting XI at the expense of Gavin McAteer, Gavin Gilmore and Luke O'Brien.

Bray fired an early warning shot across the Harps brows, Guillermo Almirall clipping the Town End crossbar from just inside the penalty area with only three minutes on the watch.

Moments later, Kieran Cruise was shaping to shoot when Conor Tourish slid in with an impeccably-timed intervention.

Harps saw Jamie Watson fire off target while David Cawley's effort dipped marginally too late to call James Corcoran, the Bray goalkeeper, into action.

After falling behind, Sean Patton – who had a recent trial at EFL Championship club Portsmouth – saw a cheeky back flick go wide after connecting with Success Edogun's cross.

Right on the stroke of half-time, Almirall narrowly missed a connection on a probing centre that would, surely, have restored the visitors' lead.

A minute into the second half, with many of the attendances still scurrying back to their perches, David Cawley hit the post. The ball fell back into his path giving him a second bite but, perhaps having taken him by surprise, the experienced midfielder shot wide.

Bray, however, got their noses back in front. With Hiemer looking like he had things covered, Harps defender Noe Baba put out behind for a corner and Cruise's set piece made its way to the far post for Almirall.

The Spanish midfielder managed to carve out a shooting chance and picked out the bottom corner with a clinical finish.

Two minutes from the end, Paul Murphy headed narrowly over with a chance to put the game beyond Harps' reach.

Finn Harps: Tim Hiemer; Jamie Watson, Conor Tourish, Noe Baba (Patrick Ferry 88), Matthew Makinson; Max Hutchison, David Cawley (Aaron McLaughlin 81); Max Johnston (Luke O'Brien 67), Success Edogun, Sean Patton (Gavin McAteer 88).

Bray Wanderers: James Corcoran; Max Murphy, Killian Cantwell, Paul Murphy Zach Nolan; Guillermo Almirall, Darren Craven (Cole Omorehiomwan 90), John O'Sullivan (Zayd Abada 81), Harry Groome, Kieran Cruise (Conor Knight 90); Ben Feeney (Peter Grogan 65).

Referee: Aaron O'Dowd.