Treaty United reeled back by Bray in second half of Markets Field stalemate

TREATY United surrendered a two-goal half-time lead as well as their perfect start to the season in a game of two halves with Bray Wanderers which ended in a 2-2 stalemate at the Markets Field on Friday evening.

The home side, cheered on by a bumper official attendance of 2,175, got off to the perfect start in this SSE Airtricity League First Division clash after a second minute Willie Armshaw corner was thundered into the roof of the net from the head of captain Marc Walsh.

The Shannonsider's early dominance translated to a couple of half chances in the opening ten minutes. Both Curran and O’Riordan couldn’t manage to direct their efforts goalward.

Bray then grew into the game but despite creating good opportunities, none of those opposrtunities worried Chambers in the Treaty goal.

The Seagulls best chance of the half fell to Max Murphy in the 27th minute. His arced run was met with a perfectly weighted pass as he rounded Chambers but his shot hit the outside of the post and was cleared for a corner.

The home side then doubled their advantage through Thomas Considine in the fortieth minute. The pacey attacker picked up the ball with space on the right flank and then unleashed a driven low shot to the net after beating his man.

The opening fifteen minutes of the second half were uneventful as far as goalmouth action was concerned as Treaty maintained their two-goal advantage. Bray struggled to make an impact on the home side’s compact defence whilst Treaty were happy enough to try to control the game and their two-goal advantage.

The first real chance of the half fell to Magersun for the visitors. A scuffed defensive header came his way, but he blasted his effort over the crossbar.

That was to be a warning sign of things to come as Bray were then given a lifeline in the 71st minute when Stephen Christopher clipped Morgan in the Treaty box.

The resulting penalty kick was rifled to the back of the net by Shane Griffin.

The Seagulls then pulled level in the 82nd minute. A lofted free kick from a Treaty offside caught the home defence off guard as substitute Thomas Morgan finished a square pass into the net.

It could have gotten even worse for the home side in the final minute of the game as Morgan again broke through on goal. However, Chambers was forced to make a huge save to keep the game level.

The Shannonsiders will be bitterly disappointed to have conceded their dominant half-time position. Treaty never really threatened the Bray goal in the second half despite being the better side in the opening half.

Up next for Treaty is an away trip to Longford on Saturday, March 16. The Midlanders face Cork City at home tomorrow evening. Meanwhile, Bray will face a third consecutive Munster away assignment as they travel to Leeside next week to face Cork City.

Treaty United: Corey Chambers, Ben O’Riordan, Oisín O’Reilly, Lee Devitt, Willie Armshaw, Thomas Considine, Stephen Christopher, Scott Kirkland, Evan O’Connor, Marc Walsh, Enda Curran. Subs: Yoyo Mahdy (for Curran 67 minutes), Fionn Doherty (for Armstrong 67 minutes), David Tarmey (for Kirkland 77 minutes), Alec Byrne (for Considine 77 minutes)

Bray Wanderers: Jimmy Corcoran, Max Murphy, Killian Cantwell, Cole Omorehiomwan, Darren Craven, Cristian Magerusan, Callum Thompson, Freddie Turley, Paul Murphy, Shane Griffin, Kieran Cruise. Subs: Harry Groome for Craven (37 minutes), Zach Nolan for Cruise (45 minutes), Guillermo Almirall (for Murphy 59 minutes), Peter Grogan (for Turley 59 minutes), Thomas Morgan (for Thompson 60 minutes).

Referee: Declan Toland (Westmeath).

Attendance: 2175