a day ago
First Division: Lee Devitt with a brace as Treaty United down Bray Wanderers; Dundalk held by UCD
Lee Devitt put on a masterclass as Treaty United overcame 2-1 Bray Wanderers at the Markets Field.
His brace either side of a missed spot kick from Max Murphy was enough to seal the points, despite a late consolation from substitute Guillermo Almirall, as the visitors failed to capitalise on a Dundalk slip-up.
Both sides made just a single change – Jamie Duggan came in for Alain Kizenga, while Yoyo Mahdy came back into the XI after the mid-season break to face his former club.
Mahdy netted the equaliser when these sides first met back in April – although the Seagulls ran out 2-1 winners thanks to Richard Ferizaj, which saw him become Bray's youngest-ever goalscorer.
It's really been feast or famine for the visitors so far - starting the season off with five straight defeats and following that with seven wins on the spin. As a contrast, Treaty United have yet to lose consecutive games, or manage to go four games without a defeat.
One undeniable positive for both Tommy Barrett and Paul Heffernan, though, was that only Cobh Ramblers had found the net more often in the league this year.
And given Treaty's +12 goal difference when playing at the Markets Field this season, it shouldn't have come to anyone's surprise when they had two opportunities to open the scoring inside ten minutes.
Lee Devitt spurned the first – a poor touch made the angle trickier than he'd have liked, but he wouldn't be denied second time around.
The midfielder, who looks a good bet to ply his trade in the Premier Division next season regardless, curled a beautiful effort into the bottom corner from just outside the box.
It was also hardly shocking to see Bray struggle to create given they had scored just seven times away from home this year, but they were given a golden opportunity to add another when Rhys Knight was bundled over in the box by Evan O'Connor after 25 minutes.
However, Max Murphy might well be rueing his Friday the 13th luck as his penalty smashed off the crossbar and clear from danger.
It seemed quite ironic that 15 minutes into the second half, Lee Devitt's thirteenth of the season put the game beyond Wanderers.
Devitt couldn't find the sight of goal he wanted, so he dummied left, then right, before guiding the ball past a perplexed Jimmy Corcoran inside a crowded penalty area. The goalkeeper, much like the 1,000+ in attendance, really didn't know how he managed it.
Substitute Guillermo Alimrall did find the net in the dying embers, but it was too little, too late for Wanderers.
Treaty United: Corey Chambers; Evan O'Connor, Robbie Lynch, Eoin Martin, Ben Lynch; Steven Healy, Connor Wilson (Colin Conroy, 79); Karl O'Sullivan, Lee-J Lynch (Mark Walsh, 90), Lee Devitt; Yoyo Mahdy (Trpimir Vrljicak, 51).
Bray Wanderers: Jimmy Corcoran; Jamie Duggan (Paul Murphy, 84), Kilian Cantwell, Benjamin Fagbemi, Max Murphy; Cian Doyle, Rhys Bartley; Conor Knight (Calum Costelloe, 61), Rhys Knight (Guillermo Almirall, 61), Billy O'Neill (Danu Kinsella Bishop, 72); Cian Curtis (Richard Farizaj, 84)
Elsewhere, leaders Dundalk were to a 1-1 at home by UCD.
Harry Groome fired the Lilywhites in front on 26 minutes, before Adam Verdon levelled for the Students eight minutes later.
Cole Omorehiomwan struck with a minute to go to earn Athlone Town a 2-2 draw with Kerry FC at the Athlone Town Stadium.
All the goals came in the second period, with Kyle Robinson putting the hosts in front on 49 minutes. Kerry responded with goals from Sean McGrath and Kennedy Amechi on 51 and 68 minutes respectively.
At Finn Park, Gradi Lomboto rescued a point for Finn Harps, with his strike on 72 minutes cancelling out Calum Flynn's opener on five minutes for Wexford FC.
