Treaty United 2 Bray Wanderers 1
Treaty United assured that their playoff hopes remain in their own hands with a 2-1 win over Bray Wanderers at the Markets Field.
If Tommy Barrett’s side avoid defeat in their final league game, a tough fixture away to Wexford at Ferrycarrig Park, they will book their ticket to the playoffs.
A 60th-minute solo run from Mark Byrne ended in a bottom corner finish, giving the home side a deserved lead.
Less than 15 minutes later, they doubled their advantage with substitute Joe Hanson making no mistake from close range, meaning Cian Curtis’s fortuitous goal with 10 minutes to go would not be enough for the visitors.
The hosts controlled the opening exchanges at the Markets Field and managed to create a couple of half-chances early on.
However, Roy Lawlor blasted over from close range, while Lee J Lynch followed an impressive solo run with a tame effort straight at James Corcoran.
Treaty striker Patrick Ferry also looked to test Corcoran in the 20th minute; however, his header from Karl O’Sullivan’s dangerous cross didn’t test the visiting keeper.
The visitors got the best chance of the opening half eight minutes from the break. After a long period of possession, a dangerous ball from the stand side of the Markets Field from Cian Doyle found Justin Ferizaj all alone on the far side of the box.
Ferizaj, who left Italian outfit Frosinone this year after an unsuccessful stint, would have been disappointed with his effort. He didn’t catch it at all and drilled it into the side netting.
It was a guilt-edged opportunity.
Treaty were slightly the better side heading into the break, but Ferizaj’s opportunity and the play that preceded it showed the quality that the visiting Seagulls had. Treaty couldn’t afford to relax for a second.
The breakthrough eventually came in on the stroke of the hour mark. Treaty’s Ben Lynch pulled on a defensive clearance, which was flicked on beautifully by the boot of Patrick Ferry.
Ferry’s flick was held up by Mark Byrne on the left-hand side. Under severe pressure from Bray’s Jamie Duggan, Byrne evaded the pressure and took off on a darting run towards the Bray box.
His cool finish into the bottom corner of Corcoran’s net drove the home crowd crazy and was no less than the hosts deserved.
It was Byrne’s 6th goal of the season, and 13th in total for Treaty. I doubt he’s scored a more important one.
Treaty continued to pile the pressure on the visitors, and almost doubled their lead in the 67th minute, but Karl O’Sullivan’s bullet volley whistled just past Corcoran’s post.
The nail in the coffin came seven minutes later through substitute Joe Hanson.
Lee Lynch swung a dangerous in swinging free kick into the Bray box. The visitors failed to deal with it, and after a botched clearance, it fell kindly to Hanson.
Hanson tapped into the empty net, before ripping off his shirt and wheeling away to the adulation of his teammates and the crowd.
The 22-year-old Canadian’s second goal of the season gave Treaty a two-goal advantage, and it would prove crucial in securing three points.
Bray secured a lifeline to half the deficit eight minutes from the final whistle.
After a beautiful, teasing cross from the left-hand side, Bray substitute Guillermo Almirall found himself in acres of space in the Treaty penalty box.
His scrappy shot was good enough to go past Corey Chambers in the Treaty net, but Eoin Martin was on hand to block it off the line for the hosts.
Martin’s botched clearance only made it as far as Cian Curtis just inside the penalty box. Curtis didn’t connect with his strike at goal at all; however, it rolled into the bottom corner, leaving the deficit at just a single goal.
It wasn’t pretty, but it gave the visiting team something to cling onto heading into the dying embers.
The final minutes of the game were hardly memorable, with Treaty desperately clinging onto the all-important three points they needed.
The relief was palpable at the Markets Field when referee Glen Geraghty sounded the final whistle, as the Treaty fans knew a good result in Wexford on Friday night would seal a return to the playoffs for their team.
Treaty United: Corey Chambers, Chris Horgan, Robbie Lynch (Richkov Boevi 90′), Eoin Martin, Ben Lynch, Lee J Lynch (Colin Conroy 90′), Lee Devitt, Karl O’Sullivan, Mark Byrne (Fionn Doherty 87′), Roy Lawlor (Ben Lee 63′), Patrick Ferry (Joe Hanson 63′)
Bray Wanderers: James Corcoran, Max Murphy, Killian Cantwell, Harvey Warren, Conor Knight (Guillermo Almirall 63′), Justin Ferizaj (Cristiano Bramley 80′) ,Jamie Duggan, Cian Curtis, Cian Doyle (Rhys Bartley 63′), Rhys Knight (Richard Ferizaj 63′), Sean Brennan (Matthew Britton 75′)
REFEREE: Glen Geraghty