Treaty United suffer play-off setback against Wexford FC in League of Ireland

TREATY United's promotion play-off hopes suffered a blow on Friday night after the side were defeated 3-1 by Wexford FC in the SSE Airtricity League First Division at the Markets Field. 

This result comes as a huge blow to Treaty United's hopes of achieving a top five finish in the First Division table and with it a place in the promotion play-offs.

Treaty United came into this clash on the back of a 7-0 victory over local rivals Pike Rovers in the last 16 of the FAI Cup. On Tuesday, Treaty were drawn against Friday night's opponents Wexford FC in the quarter-final of the FAI Cup.

It was back to League of Ireland action for Tommy Barrett's side. Wexford FC sat in fifth place on 37 points, while Treaty United were three places behind them on 32 points.

This certainly felt like a huge game in terms of Treaty United's promotion hopes. There was on pressure on both sides to get the victory to boost their chance of reaching the play-offs. 

Wexford started brightly and looked the better team early on. 

After ten minutes, both sides enjoyed long periods of keeping the ball but neither could create a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Treaty were struggling to get that final pass right, striker Enda Curran began come to deep to try and link the play. 

Treaty United began to assert their dominance on the game. 

The home side found space on 22 minutes and Lee Lynch made a terrific run down the left wing where he played the ball to Stephen Christopher.

Christopher played the ball across to last week's hat-trick hero Lee Devitt but his shot was terrifically saved on the line by the Wexford defenders. The resulting corner was played short to Enda Curran on the edge of the box. Curran's shot just went over the Bar. 

Wexford looked to be comfortable coming out of defence but one of their defenders played a ball back to their goalkeeper Conor Walsh and referee Lucas Keating deemed it as a passback.

Keating awarded a yellow card to Conor Walsh. Treaty United were awarded an indirect free inside the box, Wexford FC had all their players back on the line. Curran tried his best to rattle the ball into the back of the net but Wexford goalkeeper Conor Walsh pulled off a fantastic save. 

Treaty enjoyed the better chances in the opening period but the Garyowen-based side just couldn't capitalise on their dominance. The teams went in level 0-0 at the break. There was a certain degree of both teams figuring each other in the first half but the game sprung into life in the second half.

Treaty United finally made their dominance count on 51 minutes when Thomas Considine tore down the right wing and whipped the ball across the box to Lee Lynch. Lynch slotted the ball into of back of the net to put his side 1-0 ahead and score his first goal for the club. 

Substitute Mikie Rowe took on the Treaty United defence and coolly slotted the ball past Corey Chambers to level matters. 

Corey Chambers looked to of had the ball in his hand on 65 minutes but the Treaty United goalkeeper spilled the ball and Aaron Dobbs pounced on Chambers mistake to put Wexford Fc 2-1 ahead. 

In between that period Treaty United searched desperately for an equaliser but Wexford FC defended excellently. 

James Keddy was getting a huge impact off his bench. Substitute Kaylem Harnett was just one minute on the pitch and Harnett extended Wexford's lead on 79 minutes. 

Late on, Trpimir Vrljicak received a red card for a dangerous tackle. 

There was much more quality in the second period from both sides. In the final 30 minutes, Wexford FC took complete control of the game and ultimately that was enough for the Slaneysiders to claim the three points on offer. 

Treaty United will travel to Bray Wanderers next Friday night at 7:45pm.

TREATY UNITED: Corey Chambers, Ben O'Riordan (Captain), Oisin O'Reilly (Colin Conroy, 72 minutes), Lee Devitt, Lee Lynch, Lee Lynch, Thomas Considine (Trpimir Vrljicak, 72 minutes), Stephen Christopher, Enda Curran (Yousef Mahdy, 72 minutes), Evan O'Connor, Robbie Lynch, Steven Healy (Alec Byrne, 72 minutes).

WEXFORD: Conor Walsh, Darragh Levingston, Ethan Boyle (Captain), Divin Isamala, Kian Corbally (Kaylem Harnett, 78 minutes), Aaron Dobbs, Luka Lovic (Thomas Oluwa, 55 minutes), James Crawford, Lewis Temple, Sean McMale, Cian Curtis (Mikie Rowe, Half-Time). 

REFEREE: Lucas Keating