Wade’s saves help lacklustre City extend lead at the top of the First Division

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City returned from the holiday period looking to pick up from where they left off, having taken 7 points from their last 3 games. 

The main weakness of this year's side, lack of goals, looked to have improved last time out, beating Queenstown 4-1, so they were hoping to add to that tally as continuity Cabinteely came to town. 

City were bolstered by the return of Jack Doherty and Cathal O’Sullivan, both of whom started on the bench.

Bray on the other hand, have been thriving since the departure of former manager Ian Ryan in May. 

Since then, Paul Heffernan and Lorcan Fitzgerald have taken the first team and drastically improved their results, picking up 10 points from a possible 15, bringing them to 3rd in the table.

It was Bray who started on the front foot, pinning city back and causing them multiple problems. The Seasiders almost took the lead, when a Keiran Cruise cross was met by Christian Magerusan, who’s acrobatic flick towards goal had to be tipped over by Brad Wade between the city posts.

Bray continued to trouble City, with the front three of Magerusan, Thompson and Almirall causing the home side issues.

City were struggling to get a grip of the game, which is not a situation they have found themselves in often this season, highlighted by the diffculty they found in creating chances. 

The game turned in the 44th minute however, as half time edged closer, Greg Bolger played a ball out left over the top to Evan Mclaughlin, who took on Killian Cantwell and angled a shot with his left foot into the far corner past Bray keeper Stephen McGuiness to send City in with a largely undeserved lead. 

Tim Clancy saw changes needed to be made in order to improve, so he introduced both Conor Drinan and Jack Doherty during the interval, at the expense of Sean Murray and Josh Fitzpatrick.

The introduction of Jack brought a bit of life into the city attack. Both Doherty and Darragh Crowley managed to test Stephen McGuiness with shots from outside the box early in the second half, but both were well saved by the Bray keeper.

City went close midway through the second half, with Greg Bolger making a first time pass over the Bray defence for Cian Murphy to chase. Murph did well to win a tussle with Bray defender Zach Nolan before dinking it past McGuiness, only to see his effort trickle past the post.

With 20 minutes to play, City started letting Bray back into the game, with the visitors creating a few chances, as they searched for a much needed equaliser.

They were edging closer to getting one, and must've thought they'd been successful when, in the 78th minute, Freddie Turley played a delightful cross into the area. His ball was met by the head of Magerusan in the six yard box who had snuck between Cian Coleman and Darragh Crowley to direct a header towards goal, but somehow Brad Wade managed to claw the ball away and keep city’s one goal lead intact.

The Seasiders kept pushing late on. Two minutes into the four added, Freddie Turley cut inside to unleash a swerving shot towards the city goal which, once again, was pushed over by Brad Wade.

And that was that, despite Bray's best efforts, they fell to defeat in a game where, let's be fair, they deserved to come away with something.

City will feel lucky to have come out with a win, with Brad Wade, Greg Bolger, Jack Doherty and Darragh Crowley being city’s standouts.

But, as it has been all season, they know how to win games, which is the most important thing. 

Football is about results, but City fans will be hoping the performances improve as the march towards the title gathers pace.

Cork City travel to Wexford on the 4th of July, hoping to grow their 13 point gap on second-placed UCD.