Treaty United's disappointing league run continues with Longford defeat

TREATY United’s poor run of form has been extended following a 2-1 defeat to Longford Town in Bishopsgate in their re-arranged SSE Airtricity League First Division fixture on Monday evening.

Luckless Treaty arrived to the Midlands winless in eleven having conceded an agonising a 97th minute equaliser to Wexford on Friday evening, leaving them eight points below the playoffs. 

Meanwhile, Longford came into Monday's game rooted to the bottom of the division with just one win in fourteen.

This re-fixture, initially set to take place in early March, was again at the mercy of heavy downpours as a late pitch inspection finally gave the all-clear for the game to take place. 

Both teams struggled to get into the game in a quiet opening quarter. It wasn’t until the 17th minute that the first chance fell by way of the Town with Ross Fay’s glancing header looping just wide of the target. 

Injury-hit Treaty were dealt another blow shortly after when captain Mark Walsh was forced off with a knock minutes before goalkeeper Corey Chambers outstretched hand palmed away a driven effort from Conor Crowley to keep the game scoreless.

Mark Byrne's goal that has Treaty United ahead at the break!pic.twitter.com/Z1eiZDtv91

— Treaty United FC (@TreatyUnitedFC) May 13, 2024

The Shannonsiders then took the lead in the 42nd minute as Mark Byrne got on the end of a low Robbie Lynch cross with a diving header to flick the ball to the net, sending Treaty in 1-0 ahead at the interval.

That lead, however, didn’t last long as Longford equalised just 12 minutes after the restart. Ross Fay’s turn and pivot snapshot from the edge of the box beat Chambers to the bottom corner. 

The Shannonsiders' immediate attempt to regain the lead came through Yoyo Mahdy’s lobbed effort which was dragged wide of the target after he capitalised on some loose play at the back.

Two minutes later, Mark Byrne’s effort was well saved by former Treaty man Jack Brady after a well-worked move on the left before Adeyemo’s effort for the home side sliced narrowly wide.

Longford then took the lead in the 75th minute as Dean O’Shea rose highest to meet the in-swinging corner to thunder his header beyond Chambers.

Crowley almost doubled that lead three minutes from full-time having snatched up a loose ball but his effort was well
blocked. 

Another disappointing night for Treaty with their winless run is extended. The side make a trip south to take on Munster rivals Cobh Ramblers this Friday night at St Colman's Park, 7.45pm. Meanwhile, Longford will take on Midland rivals Athlone.

Longford Town FC: Jack Brady, Jordan Adeyemo (Emmanuel James 84), Francis Campbell, Conor Crowley, Shane Elworthy (Mohammed Boudiaf), Ross Fay (Jordan Tallon 84), Bastian Hery, Kyle O’Connor, Dean O’Shea, Viktor Serdenyuk, Luke Wade-Slater.

Treaty United FC: Corey Chambers, Alec Byrne (Niko Kozlowski 77), Mark Byrne, Colin Conroy, Thomas Considine, Lee Devitt, Robbie Lynch (Scott Kirkland 46), Yoyo Mahdy (Fionn Doherty 74), Evan O’Connor Ben O’Riordan, Mark Walsh (Stephen Christopher 32).