U20 Match Report - Bray Wanderers 3 Treaty United 1

 

Two goals in as many first half minutes paved the way for Bray to secure a decisive first U20 LOI Academy MU20 Tier Two (South) home win. 

Philip Cooney found the net once in each period as the home outfit proved too good for Treaty at Ballycorus on Saturday afternoon. 

After a tentative opening spell, the visitors went close in the 25th minute when Edvinas Jakas saved down well to deny Shane Franklin. 

But Wanderers broke the dead-lock in the 34th minute. 

Stefan Ugbesia weaved in off the left wing. He combined with debut striker Dean Owens before Ugbesia passed to Cooney on the left corner of the six-yard. He span off his marker to find the net with a shot on the swivel. 

Play had barely restarted when it became 2-0. 

Cooney harassed the away team out of possession wide left. He got into the box before cutting the ball back for Owens – signed recently from Klub Kildare – to side foot in low from eight yards. 

The Green and White’s had early chances to add to their tally in the second period. 

Cooney volleyed over close in off Leon Ajala’s 50th minute cross. On the hour, Daniel Chukwu played in Owens. But United keeper Adam Brennan made a block save. 

Seconds later, Owens' flicked header released Cooney. But he shot wide when well placed. 

That pressure paid off in the 68th minute. 

Destiny Avenbuan's cross from the left was only cleared to Cooney on the edge of the box. He controlled before shooting low in the bottom right corner of the net. 

The woodwork denied Cooney a hat-trick four minutes later. He latched onto Ugbesia’s through ball down the left channel. But his 16-yard attempt struck the near upright, hit Brennan’s back but was scrambled clear. 

United grabbed a consolation two minutes deep into stoppage time. 

From a through ball off the left, Isaac O'Sullivan got in behind the home defenced to lob Jakas. 

 

Bray Wanderers: Edvinas Jakas; Daniel Sabatin, Leon Ajala, Caleb O'Neill, Destiny Avenbuan; Joshua Kerr, Stefan Ugbesia; Daniel Chukwu, Billy O'Neill, Phillip Cooney; Dean Owens. 

 

Subs: Alain Kizenga, Alan Seruga, Kian Reddy, Tristan Donnelly, Abdurahman Bouderbala, Rhys Knight, Dylan Ryan, Jack Ellis. 

 

Treaty United: Adam Brennan; Fintan McNamara, Fintan O’Kelly, Brandon Long, Richkov Boevi; Mark Murphy, Sean O'Haodha; Isaac O'Sullivan, Kyle Foley, Ross Bermingham; Shane Franklin. 

 

Subs: Luke Ryan, Ryan Perez, Conaill Stapleton, Cillian Mulvihill, Charlie Campbell, Donnacha O'Leary. 

 

Referee: Darren Carey. Assistants: Jason Ray, Sahin Yasar. 

 

Pictures: Ethan Finnerty. 

 

* Elsewhere in the section, leaders Shelbourne defeated Cobh Ramblers 3-2 at St. Colman’s Park. Kerry FC also beat CK United 6-0 at the Watershed. 

All the results mean Shels lead the way on 123 points from four games. Bray, Kerr and Klub Kildare follow in joint second on six points. 

 

* Bray have two away matches upcoming this week. They will travel on Tuesday August 13 to face Klub Kildare at FBD Hotels and Resorts Park at 7.30pm. Then on Saturday August 17 next, they will take on Shelbourne at the AUL Complex.