Match Report – Bray Wanderers 2 Treaty United 1

 

Bray recorded three SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division wins in a row for the first time since May 2021 as they ended their recent poor home run against Treaty. 

 

The 2-1 home league triumph on Friday over the Shannonsiders at the Carlisle Grounds was their first since August 2021. 

 

First half goals by Kieran Cruise and Peter Grogan – his third in as many games – did the damage on Friday evening. 

 

The result lifts Wanderers up to fourth in the charts. 

 

After last week’s away win over Longford Town at Bishopsgate, Head Coach Ian Ryan named an unchanged line-up. 

 

The Wicklow side hit the front after just seven minutes. 

 

After good initial work by Irish U19 cap Freddie Turley, Cruise gathered. And the left winger scored his first goal for Wanderers with a low poked effort from 20-yards into the bottom right corner of the net. 

 

It got even better for the Green and White’s by the 27th minute. 

 

Turley played the ball out wide right. Conor Knight nipped in before United player Oisin O’Reilly and squared low were Grogan flicked in to the front post for his fourth goal of the season. 

 

The Seagulls were up in arms in the 31st minute when Shane Griffin slipped Grogan clear. He appeared to be bundled over by the covering O’Reilly. But referee Lucas Keating waved play on. 

 

The second half was a much more even affair. 

 

Twice in the 51st minute, Stephen McGuinness thwarted Lee Devitt. 

 

Moments later at the other end, Grogan appeared to be bundled over by Mark Walsh’s challenge in the box. 

 

Inexplicably, the match official booked the striker – instead of awarding the expectant penalty. 

 

Just before the hour, McGuinness superbly tipped over Mark Walsh’s header off Stephen Christopher’s free. 

 

Treaty then pulled one back in the 73rd minute. 

 

After Robbie Lynch’s run down the right, he found sub Leon Kirrane who thumped a 16-yard finish to the net. 

 

A spate of yellow cards followed as Bray recorded a home win against United at the fifth time of asking. 

 

Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness; Max Murphy, Killian Cantwell, Paul Murphy, Evan Osam; Harry Groome (Callum Thompson 76), Shane Griffin; Conor Knight (Darren Craven 61), Freddie Turley, Kieran Cruise (Zach Nolan 90 + 2), Peter Grogan (Cristian Magerusan 61). 

 

Subs not used: Guillermo Almirall, Jamie Duggan, Thomas Morgan, Ben Clark. 

 

Booked: Grogan (52), Groome (70), Craven (74), Turley (77), Magerusan (82). 

 

Treaty United: Corey Chambers; Robbie Lynch, Oisín O’Reilly, Ben O’Riordan, Mark Walsh; Mark Byrne (Thomas Considine 55), Alec Byrne (Mark Murphy 67), Stephen Christopher (Nikodem Kozlowski 79), Lee Devitt Molloy, Scott Kirkland (Leon Kirrane 67); Yousef Mahdy (William Armshaw 55). 

 

Subs not used: Conor Carew, Fionn Doherty, Mark O’Halloran, Michael Dike. 

 

Booked: Lynch (63), Christopher (77). 

 

Referee: Lucas Keating (Cork). 

 

Pictures: Mick Hanney (Bray Camera Club).