Match Report – Treaty United 2 Bray Wanderers 2

 

Bray came from 2-0 down to claim a point and make it two SSE Airtricity First Division games unbeaten. 

 

Shane Griffin’s penalty gave Wanderers hope on Friday evening after substitute Thomas Morgan have been fouled in the box. 

 

Then the teenage striker registered his first senior league goal to leave the Markets Field with a share of the spoils against leaders Treaty. 

 

It could have been even better for the visitors but Morgan was denied a winner in stoppage time by Corey Chambers vital save. 

 

From the side who’d beaten Kerry FC 3-2 two weeks previous at Mounthawk Park, the Green and White’s made two changes to their line-up – with match-winner in Tralee Cristian Magerusan starting along with on-loan midfielder Freddie Turley. 

 

On the bench, goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness and defender Evan Osam returned to the substitutes while Conor Knight featured for the first time in all competitions so far in 2024. 

 

After three successive league wins, the Limerick club started well. And hit the front after just 90 seconds when Mark Walsh scored with a glancing header off Willaim’s Armshaw’s corner. 

 

The Seagulls had the opportunity to equalise in the tenth minute. Max Murphy’s measured through ball released Magerusan. But he scuffed the shot with just Chambers to beat. 

 

Just before the half hour, Max Murphy ghosted in behind the United defence. He evaded Chambers but saw his effort come back off the post. 

The Wicklow outfit were dealt a further blow in the 37th minute when vice-captain Darren Craven left the contest with injury. 

 

Worse was to follow just three minutes later. 

 

From a free-kick off the left, the hosts sprayed the ball right to Stephen Christopher. He then slipped in Thomas Considine who embarked on a jinking run before delivering a low drive. 

 

The covering Paul Murphy stuck out a foot and inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net at the near post. 

 

Wanderers were up in arms in the 45th minute when referee Declan Toland blew and booked Evan O’Connor for a foul on Magerusan – after Max Murphy had been released in on goal. 

 

Then in stoppage time, Armshaw’s corner struck the bar from the right wing. 

 

The introduction of Zach Nolan wide left for the second period gave Bray impetus after the interval. 

 

But the triple substitution of Morgan, Peter Grogan and Guillermo Almirall on the hour helped turn the game in the away teams favour. 

Bray deservedly pulled one back in the 71st minute. 

 

Sub Harry Groome’s header was latched onto by Morgan. He burst into the 18-yard area only to be hauled down by Christopher. 

Griffin made no mistake from the spot for his first league goal for the club. 

 

Morgan joined him in that feat in the 82nd minute. 

 

Griffin’s long punt was knocked down by Magerusan. Grogan gathered and skipped past two defenders on the right of the box to drill goalwards. Morgan adjusted his feet to flick in with a clever touch from six yards. 

 

The visitors could have won the match in the fourth minute of stoppage time. 

 

Magerusan was fouled. He then quickly played the free to release Morgan. But Chambers stood up to make the crucial block with Oisin O’Reilly hacking clear before the goal-line. 

 

Treaty United: Corey Chambers; Evan O’Connor, Ben O’Riordan, Oisin O’Reilly; Scott Kirkland (David Tarmey 78), Mark Walsh; Lee Devitt; Thomas Considine (Alec Byrne 78), Stephen Christopher, William Armshaw (Fionn Doherty 67); Enda Curran (Yoyo Mahdy 67). 

 

Subs not used: Adam O’Halloran, Leon Kirrane, Mark Byrne, Mark Murphy, Michael Dike. 

 

Booked: Devitt 25, Curran 27, O’Connor 45, Mahdy 81, O’Reilly 85, Alec Byrne 89. 

 

Bray Wanderers: Jimmy Corcoran; Cole Omorehiomwan, Kilian Cantwell, Paul Murphy (Guillermo Almirall 59); Max Murphy, Darren Craven (Harry Grome 37), Freddie Turley (Peter Grogan 59), Kieran Cruise (Zach Nolan half time); Shane Griffin; Cristian Magerusan, Callum Thompson (Thomas Morgan 59). 

 

Subs not used: Evan Osam, Alain Kizenga, Conor Knight, Stephen Mc Guinness. 

 

Booked: Cruise 19, Paul Murphy 20, Paul Heffernan 89. 

 

Referee: Declan Toland. 

 

Pictures: Michael P. Ryan (Sportsfile).