Resilient Treaty United score crucial league win over Athlone Town

TREATY United kept alive their outside hopes of reaching this year’s First Division promotion play-offs thanks to an impressive 4-1 win over 10-man Athlone Town at the Markets Field on Friday evening.

Tommy Barrett’s charges, who were level at 1-1 at half time after a Marc Ludden penalty equalised for the home side after 22 minutes, got back to winning wins after a Success Edogun goal and a brace from half-time substitute Stephen Christopher in the second half.

As expected, fourth-place Athlone got off to the better start and were duly rewarded for their efforts when Patrick Hickey rose higher than his marker Marc Ludden to head home an inch-perfect Josh McGlone corner with just 11 minutes on the clock. 

Treaty responded well, however, and were back on level terms 11 minutes later. Mark Walsh rose highest to meet a well-taken Conor Barry corner but just as the ball was about to cross the line, Athlone defender Jack Kavanagh handled the ball.

Treaty captain Marc Ludden held his nerve to find the back of the net as Kavanagh saw red for his handball on the line.

Minutes later, Lee Devitt almost put Treaty in front, but Athlone goalkeeper Shauna O’Donnell recovered well to somehow keep the Treaty midfielder’s lobbed effort from 40 yards out after a poor clearance from the 32-year-old ‘keeper.

Treaty were almost ahead once again but O’Donnell did well to save a close-range effort from Dean George before Dylan Gavin came to the rescue for Athlone, blocking Success’ rebounded effort on the line.

The home side did take the lead when just shy of the hour mark, Edogun, who was causing the Athlone defence all sorts of problems with his strength and speed, turned Noah Van Geenen before finding the far corner of the net.

A depleted and tired looking Athlone looked stretched from here on in as the visitors went in search of an equaliser.

Treaty fully capitalised and half-time substitute Stephen Christopher sealed the win when he found himself in plenty of space inside the penalty area before coolly slotting home to make it 3-1 with 18 minutes to play.

Christopher added an injury time goal to put daylight between the two sides - Treaty's biggest win against the Midlander club since coming in the league. 

The sending off proved to be the turning point in a result that sees Treaty remain seven points off the final play-off position ahead of an away trip to face Longford next Saturday.

TREATY UNITED: Corey Chambers; Ben O’Riordan, Sean Guerins, Andy Spain, Marc Ludden; Lee Devitt, Mark Walsh; Adam Lennon, Conor Barry, Dean George; Success Edogun. SUBS: Stephen Christopher for Spain (half time), Dean O’Shea for Lennon, Colin Conroy for Barry (both 73 minutes), Fionn Doherty for Edogun (88 minutes), Nikodem Kozlowski for George (90 minutes)

ATHLONE TOWN:  Shaun O’Donnell; Oisin Duffy, Noah Van Geenen, German Fuentes Rodriguez, Jack Kavanagh; Daniel McKenna, Patrick Hickey; Jamar Campion-Hinds, Dylan Gavin, Josh McGlone; Frantz Pierrot. SUBS: Valerii Doliva for Pierrot (17 minutes, injured), Donal Curtin for McGlone (26 minutes), Aaron Connolly for McKenna, Nazar Zubkov for Duffy (both 76 minutes)

REFEREE: Daniel Murphy