In the final away match of the 2025 SSE Airtricity Men's First Division season, Bray fell to Treaty on Friday evening. 

After a scoreless opening period at the Markets Field, the Seasiders went 2-0 behind before pulling one back late on. 

With UCD drawing 2-2 with Athlone Town at the Bowl, the two results means that three points separate Wanderers and the Students. 

A win, or a draw, next Friday the Carlisle Grounds at home to Kerry in the final fixture of the League campaign will ensure the Wicklow side finish third in the table. 

That will mean home advantage against the ‘College in the second leg of the Play-off Semi Final later this month. 

There were four changes to the line-up who’d lost away at Cobh last week. 

Cian Doyle returned after a ban in central midfield. Jamie Duggan started at right-back, while Rhys Knight and Cian Curtis came back into the first 11. 

The first 45 minutes will not live long in the memory. 

Lee Lynch broke up the middle in the 14th minute for the hosts. But his tame shot was gathered by Jimmy Corcoran. 

The visitors best chance came in the 39th minute. 

In a move started on the right and worked to the middle, Doyle found Justin Ferizaj on the left in the box. But he dragged his first time effort into the side netting. 

The second period was just two minutes old when the away team had a fantastic opportunity to break the deadlock. 

Harvey Warren played a defence splitting pass to release Rhys Knight. But in the box, the teenager scooped the shot over the bar. 

Eight minutes later at the other end, Warren’s clearance in the area was charged down. Patrick Ferry reacted to the rebound but scuffed wide from ten-yards. 

Somewhat against the run of play, United hit the front on the hour. 

Benjamin Lynch lifted a ball forward from the left of his own half. Ferry hooked out to the left of the Bray half. 

Mark Byrne skipped between two challenges. Space opened up outside the 18-yard area, and using an opponent as shield, the striker bent low into the far bottom right corner of the net. 

The Seasiders went agonisingly closer to a 70th minute equaliser. 

Max Murphy’s corner went deep. Kilian Cantwell sent a looping header back goalwards. Under pressure from Justin Ferizaj, Christopher Horgan headed off the line while a free out was awarded from the scramble that followed. 

Treaty then doubled their lead four minutes later. 

Lee Lynch swung in a free right footed off the left flank. Eoin Martin’s headed rebounded off a Bray player. The ball dropped to substitute Joseph Hanson who drilled in low from eight-yards. 

The Green and White’s did pull one back in the 82nd minute – with four substitutes involved in the move. 

A surging run from his own half by Richard Ferizaj saw him find Matthew Britton wide left. He whipped a ball to the back post. 

Guillermo Almirall flicked it back towards goal. Cristiano Bramley then teed up Curtis whose 12-yard low shot was deflected over the line. 

 

Treaty United: Corey Chambers; Christopher Horgan, Robbie Lynch (Richkov Boevi 90), Eoin Martin, Benjamin Lynch; Lee Lynch (Colin Conroy 90); Roy Lawlor (Benjamin Lee 63), Lee Devitt, Karl O'Sullivan; Patrick Ferry (Joseph Hanson 63), Mark Byrne (Fionn Doherty 86). 

 

Subs not used: Nikodem Kozlowski, Connor Wilson, Mark Murphy, Matthew Boylan. 

 

Booked: O’Sullivan 15, Hanson 75, Benjamin Lee 80. 

 

Bray Wanderers: Jimmy Corcoran; Jamie Duggan, Kilian Cantwell, Harvey Warren, Max Murphy; Cian Doyle (Rhys Bartley 63), Sean Brennan (Matthew Britton 75); Conor Knight (Guillermo Almirall 63), Rhys Knight (Richard Ferizaj 63), Justin Ferizaj (Cristiano Bramley 80); Cian Curtis. 

 

Subs not used: Paul Murphy, Flynn Ryan, Benjamin Fagbemi, Stephen McGuinness. 

 

Booked: Conor Knight 38, Doyle 45, Curtis 90 + 2. 

 

Referee: Glen Geraghty (Dublin). 

 

Pictures: Paul and Joe Barrett.