Treaty United celebrate Good Friday success with victory over Longford

TREATY United gained their first win of the SSE Airtricity League First Division season when edging past Longford Town 3-2 in a five-goal thriller at the Markets Field on Good Friday night.

The home side was twice pegged back after taking the lead against the Midlanders before substitute Dean George popped up with a precious 85th minute winning goal from a header for Tommy Barrett's charges. 

Earlier Lee Devitt, after six minutes, and substitute Success Edogun, with a stunning strike in the second half, were also on target for Treaty United who were level 1-1 at half-time with a Longford side which had won just one league game this season prior to kick-off.

Despite the win, Treaty remain in ninth place in the First Division table, level on points with eighth-placed Longford and two points behind Wexford FC in sixth.

The challenge facing Treaty United now is to build on Friday night's win as the side faces a trip to Ballybofey in a weeks' time to take on Finn Harps, 8pm.

Treaty made two changes to their starting line-up from the one which drew with Wexford FC a week earlier for the visit of Longford Town. Anto O'Donnell and Willie Armshaw came into the team for Success Edogun and Colin Conroy. On the substitutes' bench, Dean George returned to the matchday squad.

For Longford Town, Aaron Walsh made the bench for the first time this season after recovering from injury.

Home side Treaty United went in front on the fifth minute. Conor Barry latched into a pass down the left before picking out Enda Curran with a pinpoint centre. Striker Curran was fouled on the edge of the penalty area.

Up stepped Lee Devitt to fire the ball to the net from the resultant free-kick, despite the best efforts of Longford keeper Jack Brady to keep it out. Brady moved from Longford from Treaty United over the closed season.

Treaty's lead didn't last long however as the visitors responded impressively to falling behind. In the 19th minute Francis Campell was played in behind the Treaty defence with a well-judged pass. His initial attempt on goal was parried by the advancing Treaty United 'keeper Shane Hallahan.

However, the alert Campbell pounced on the loose ball as it broke to him and he finished clinically to the net to tie the score at 1-1.

The visitors, who were looking the livlier of the two sides, threatened to go in front just after the half hour mark, when Campbell collected the ball on the right. His cross was cleared but the Longford goalscorer was found again by Dervin, but this time flashed his shot wide. 

Treaty had a rare opportunity to retake the lead 10 minutes before half-time when Armshaw collected possession on the left edge of the penalty area. However, Longford keeper Brady denied his former team mate with a smart save to keep the game deadlocked.

It remained honours even at half-time.

Treaty United replaced striker Enda Curran, who had taken a knock in the opening half, with Success Edogun at half-time.

It was Longford who created the opening opportunity of the second period when Derek Daly crossed from the right. However, Viktor Serdeniuk's effort on goal flew high and wide.

When the next goal arrived it came for the home team and what a stunning effort it was in the 50th minute. Substitute Success Edogun collected a pass 25 yards from goal and flashed a thunderbolt of  STRIKE high into the roof of the Longford net past a helpless Brady.

The goal brought the Easter Weekend attendance to their feet and with it the prospect of a first league win of the season.

That prospect was knocked on the head in the 79th minute when a tantilising cross from Longford substitute Adam Verdon was flashed to the net by Joshua Giurgi for the equaliser.

The drama was not done yet, however. Treaty United hit the front in the 85th minute. Longford keeper Brady did well to keep out an initial effort on goal before the rebound fell to substitute Dean George who headed home for the lead goal at 3-2.

It proved to be the winning goal on a night when Treaty United achieved a precious victory.

TREATY UNITED: Shane Hallahan, Ben O'Riordan, Lee Devitt, Anthony O'Donnell, Conor Barry, Alec Byrne, Stephen Christopher, Andrew Spain, Willie Armshaw (Dean George 65), Enda Curran (Capt) (Success Edogun 46), Mark Walsh (Colin Conroy 85).

LONGFORD TOWN: Jack Brady, Shane Elworthy (Capt), Derek Daly (Adam Verdon 68), Oisin Hand, Joshua Giurgi, Gary Armstrong (Jamal Ibrahim 68), Cian Byrne, Aodh Dervin, Viktor Serdeniuk (Mohammed Boudiaf 82), Kyle O'Connor, Francis Campbell.

REFEREE: Declan Toland