Treaty Utd lose by odd goal in five in First Division league tie with Wexford

TREATY United fell to their fourth defeat of the season after a 3–2 loss to Wexford at Ferrycarrig Park on Friday evening in the SSE Airtricity League First Division.

The hosts were full value for the victory after a dominant first-half display in which Treaty goalkeeper Jack Brady was repeatedly called into action to keep the Shannonsiders in the contest. It was a frantic opening half that saw Brady produce a string of saves, while both sides also missed penalties.

It was a disastrous start for Treaty, with the hosts taking the lead after just two minutes. A long ball over the top found striker Jake Doyle, who cleverly flicked it beyond two defenders before rifling a low finish past Brady.

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Six minutes later, Gavin Hodgins forced a superb save from the Treaty goalkeeper with a powerful effort from the edge of the box that looked destined for the net. Max Murphy was next to test Brady, drawing another strong stop in the twelfth minute. Brady was called into action again on the half-hour mark, this time producing a smart parry to deny Jamie Wynne after the winger created space inside the box and unleashed a fierce strike on goal.

Ten minutes before half-time, Brady’s heroics continued as he somehow prevented Doyle from doubling Wexford’s advantage with an extraordinary triple save from point-blank range. It appeared certain the ball would end up in the net, with suggestions it may even have crossed the line, but the Treaty shot-stopper produced a remarkable intervention to keep his side within reach.

Incredibly, during a frantic two-minute spell, Jason Oyenuga collected possession from Brady’s resulting throw and embarked on a driving run that earned the visitors a penalty completely against the run of play. However, Cian Curtis’ low effort was well saved by Paul Martin in the Wexford goal.

Right on the stroke of half-time, Wexford were awarded a penalty of their own when Kyle Foley was penalised for handball in the box. Mickie Rowe stepped up, but Brady once again came to the rescue, getting down low to keep the ball out and ensure the Shannonsiders remained firmly in the contest at the break.

Treaty remarkably drew level immediately after the restart. Half-time substitute Ronan Manning delivered an inch-perfect cross from the left after collecting a recycled ball, and Ben Feeney rose to head emphatically past Martin to make it 1–1.

However, the visitors’ momentum was short-lived. Just five minutes later, Rowe made amends for his earlier penalty miss by getting on the end of Jamie Wynne’s delivery to volley home from close range in the fifty-third minute and restore Wexford’s lead.

In the sixty-third minute, Curtis forced another sharp save from Martin after meeting a cross from Feeney on the right. However, fifteen minutes from time, Adam Verdon effectively sealed the result with a superb solo effort. The Wexford midfielder drove forward with purpose before striking a low left-footed effort from twenty-five yards that beat Brady at his near post.

Deep into stoppage time, Manning came close to reducing the deficit with a dipping first-time volley that flew just over the crossbar. However, Treaty did manage a late consolation goal moments later when Kaylem Harnett turned a low Curtis cross into his own net.

The result leaves Treaty rooted to the foot of the table on five points ahead of next week’s visit of Longford Town to the Markets Field. Meanwhile, Wexford will look to make it back-to-back victories for the first time this season when they host promotion-chasing Bray Wanderers.

WEXFORD: Paul Martin, Max Murphy, Robert McCourt, Dylan Hand, Adam Verdon, Dean Larkin, Zayd Abada, Jamie Wynne (Liam Doyle 82), Gavin Hodgins (Ryan Ritchie 71), Mickie Rowe (Kaylem Harnett 80), Jake Doyle.

TREATY: Jack Brady, Eric Yoro (Ronan Manning 46), Ben Lynch, Mark Lynch, Jason Oyenuga (Ben Cunningham 79), Kyle Foley, Ben Feeney, Steven Healy, Cian Curtis, Max Murphy, Roy Lawlor (Richy Lapointe-Guevara 46).

REFEREE: Daniel Murphy.