Resilient Treaty United battle back to make it hat-trick of league wins

TREATY United delivered a dynamic display to claim SSE Airtricity League First Division spoils at Markets Field, easing past Athlone Town 2-1 to win their third league game in-a-row on Friday night.

Lee Devitt and substitute Marc Ludden bagged goals for sixth-placed Treaty, who outfoxed the visitors from Westmeath to move within just one-point of the play-off places.

Ahead of Treaty’s 13th game of their League campaign, the Markets Field ground staff volunteers worked hard to ensure the Garryowen playing surface was match ready after heavy rain on Shannonside in recent days.

And after a battling Athlone looked like they would take all three points after a first half Frantz Pierrot goal, Treaty battled back and two late quick-fire goals in the last 11 minutes secured the all-important three points for the Limerick side.

It was Treaty's fifth game in 15 days, but Tommy Barrett’s men showed no sign of tiredness.

The first real chance of the contest fell for Athlone after just six minutes on the clock, but Valerii Dolia’s effort, after a superb cross from Jamar Campion-Hands to the back post, sailed over the bar and out of the ground - the heavy pitch doing no favours for the visiting left winger.

The goal chance, albeit one that never was going to threaten Shane Hallahan in the Treaty goal, gave the home side an early wakeup call and the home side upped the tempo from here on in.

Minutes later, Treaty could have and should have taken the lead, but Stephen Christopher could only watch on as his headed effort whisked wide of the post just shy of the 10th minute mark. The Treaty winger did well to move into space before Conor Barry lifted a superb cross to the edge of the six-yard box.

Barry turned from provider to almost goalscorer two minutes later, but the former Galway United midfielder’s low drive was easing pickings for Athlone ‘keeper Vladi Velikin. Treaty had most of the possession at this stage and were really getting on top in an end-to-end game.

Barrett’s charges continued to threaten, and Dean George was left frustrated after Athlone defender Noah van Geenen was booked for a trip on the Treaty striker as he was through on goal after a superb pass from Colin Conroy.

Against the run of play, Athlone took the lead two minutes shy of the half hour mark as Frantz Pierrot coolly slotted home after the Treaty defence were caught napping. The Haiti striker was quickest to react to an inch-perfect through ball from Dolia and found the far corner of the net just in time before Ben O’Riordan scrabbled back to help his Treaty defence.

Pierrot, who was causing Treaty all sorts of problems at this stage, should have doubled his tally six minutes later, but the unmarked Athlone striker headed wide after again linking up well with and meeting a lovely cross from the lively and impressive Campion-Hands

Barry again responded with a low drilled effort that drifted narrowly wide as Treaty kept knocking on the door, but to no answer.

After the restart, Treaty continued to battle away and were nearly rewarded for their efforts in the 55th minute. Lee Devitt drove forward, hit a fantastic in-swinging cross, before Enda Curran’s headed effort was saved by Velikin.

The game really came to life from here, and boosted by a vocal home support, the momentum started to swing in Treaty’s favour.

After some excellent work from Barry, the ball fell to Alex Byrne – the former Cork City midfielder blasted towards goal. The home support thought it was in, but Athlone held on to fight another chance as Byrne’s sweetly struck effort crashed off the crossbar.

Putting in an heroic display in the Athlone goal, Velikin again kept Athlone in the game, punching clear a dangerous Enda Curran cross as lady luck continued to shine brightest on the resilient Westmeath outfit.

Ironically, Velikin, arguably the man of the match up until this point and certainly Athlone’s outstanding performer, was the one to ultimately gift Treaty their equaliser after some excellent pressure from Curran. Lee Devitt was the finisher from close-range as the home side eventually got their well-deserved goal with 11 minutes left on the clock.

If momentum is to be believed in sport, there seemed to be no stopping Treaty from here on in. And Barrett’s brave charges were duly rewarded for their efforts eight minutes from time.

Marc Ludden, just on the pitch a total of 11 minutes, superbly won the ball back in the middle of the park before laying the ball off to Curran. The Treaty striker linked up well with Barry before the former Galway midfielder beautifully backheeled the ball into the path of Ludden who finished into the corner of the net.

Treaty held on and managed the game well to secure all three points to go within one point of fifth-place Bray Wanderers who occupy the final promotion play-off position.

Treaty United: Shane Hallahan; Ben O’Riordan, Darren Nwankwo, Andrew Spain, Lee Devitt; Conor Barry, Alec Byrne, Colin Conroy, Stephen Christopher; Dean George, Enda Curran (capt). Subs: Marc Ludden for Conroy, William Armshaw for Christopher (both 71 minutes), Colin Kelly for Curran (85 minutes)

Athlone Town: Vladi Velikin; Haji Abdikadir, German Fuentes Rodriguez, Noah van Geenen, Jack Kavanagh; Jamar Campion-Hinds, Matthew Leal, Patrick Hickey, Aaron Connolly (capt.), Valerii Dolia; Frantz Pierrot. Subs: Adam Lennon for Leal (64 minutes), Oisin Duffy for Campion-Hands (71 minutes), Blake Ryan for Kavanagh, Aaron McBride for Abdikadir, Matthew McCarrick for Connolly (all 90 minutes)

Referee: Oliver Moran