Treaty United suffer defeat away to Bray in First Division

TREATY United have dropped out of the promotion play-off places in the SSE Airtricity League First Division and have extended their winless run to seven games following Friday night's 2-1 defeat to Bray Wanderers in the Carlisle Grounds.

Treaty got off to the worst possible start, conceding an early goal after just seven minutes as a toe-poked effort from Bray left-back Kieran Cruise beat Corey Chambers in the Treaty goal.

The former Shamrock Rovers man pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the box before finishing his shot to the bottom corner.

Lee Devitt had the visitors first chance of merit fifteen minutes later but he saw his driven shot fly narrowly wide of the post.

Moments later, Yousef Mahdy attempted to lob McGuinness in the Bray goal but his chip drifted wide of the target.

Things then went from bad to worse for the Shannonsiders as Knight intercepted a loose ball before drilling a low cross into the box. Grogan flicked it goalward at the near post to double Bray’s lead in the twenty-seventh minute.

Treaty pressed for a way back into the game with Byrne going close from just outside the box. The visitors' best chance of the half came just moments later when a scrambled corner resulted in Kirkland blasting his effort over from a few yards out.

Mahdy again tried an audacious chip of McGuinness just after the restart but his effort once more drifted wide. Shortly after good work on the right saw Byrne deliver a cross for Devitt.

His diving header was saved at full stretch by McGuinness. Devitt scrambled with a follow-up shot but McGuinness got down low to keep it out. 

McGuinness was again called into action seven minutes later as he tipped over Walsh’s goal-bound header before the Limerick side eventually were eventually rewarded for their sustained pressure.

Substitute Leon Kirrane rifled his shot from 20 yards out into the back of the net for his first-ever senior goal in just his second appearance for Treaty.

Despite a much-improved second half that was to be as good as it got for the Shannonsiders as they now drop to seventh in the league.

Treaty return to action next Friday at home to UCD as they aim to end their winless run. Bray meanwhile take on Kerry.

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

Treaty United: Corey Chambers, Ben O’Riordan, Oisin O’Reilly, Lee Devitt, Yousef Mahdy (William Armshaw 55), Stephen Christopher (Niko Kozlowski 78), Alec Byrne (Mark Murphy 68), Scott Kirkland (Leon Kirrane 68), Mark Walsh, Robbie Lynch, Mark Byrne (Thomas Considine 55), 

Referee: Lucas Keating.