Waterford strike for seven goals in rout win over Treaty United

TREATY UNITED fell to a third loss on the bounce after losing out to Waterford FC on a 7-0 scoreline in their SSE Airtricity First Division clash at the RSC.

Waterford had the game sewn up at half time with five goals seeing them into the break in firm control of the contest. Chris Conn-Clarke, Shane Griffin, Giles Phillips, Tummise Sobawale and Ronan Coughlan all hit the target in the opening 45 minutes.

Griffin added a second in the 10th minute of the second and Thomas Oluwa's first goal for Waterford saw them to a 7-0 win. The defeat sees Treaty drop to seventh place in the table. 

Tommy Barrett's side face a quick turnaround when they welcome Wexford to the Markets Field on Bank Holiday Monday in their next game. The fixture on Monday has a 7.45pm kick-off.

Treaty's best effort of the first half came from an audacious Alec Byrne effort from 45 yards that sailed just over Paul Martin's goal on 14 minutes. The nightmare began moments later.

An Andy Spain attempted clearance was blocked by Robson Odowo. The ball fell to Conn-Clarke and he turned Stephen Christopher inside out before delivering a low finish past Shane Hallahan.  

Waterford were full value for the lead and added a second goal on 34 minutes. A slick move between Barry Baggley and Conn-Clarke released the latter down the left side. He cut the ball back for Griffin who had time and space to place a shot into the bottom left corner.

Griffin turned provider for Waterford's third with a superb corner kick that was headed into the net by Phillips. Sobawale then made it 4-0 on 40 minutes with an effort from just inside the Treaty box.

Waterford then made it 5-0 just before the break. Another Griffin corner again caused the trouble with Limerick native Coughlan nodding home for his 19th of the season in front of an attendance of 1,819.

Keith Long's side wasted no time in adding to their total in the second half with Griffin adding a second on 55 minutes after excellent work from Coughlan down the right.

Treaty had their keeper Hallahan to thank for the remainder of the half as he made some excellent saves to keep the score but Waterford did manage to add a seventh late on despite the keeper's best efforts. Odowo' penalty was saved by Hallahan but Oluwa turned in the rebound to see Waterford home to a huge victory.

WATERFORD FC: Paul Martin; Tummise Sobawale, Killian Cantwell, Giles Phillips, Ryan Burke; Connor Parsons, Shane Griffin Barry Baggley, Chris Conn-Clarke; Roland Odowo; Ronan Coughlan.

Subs: Thomas Oluwa for Coughlan (56 mins), Eddie Nolan for Phillips (56 mins), Ronan Mansfield for Burke (56 mins), Romeo Akachukwu for Griffin (64 mins), Dean Larkin for Baggley (64 mins).

TREATY UNITED: Shane Hallahan; Stephen Christopher, Andy Spain, Anto O'Donnell, Marc Ludden; Colin Conroy, Lee Devitt, Alec Byrne, Conor Barry; Colin Kelly, Dean George.

Subs: Darren Collins for Spain (18 mins, inj), Scott Kirkland for Byrne (61 mins), Martin Coughlan for Barry (61 mins), Josh Quinlivan for George (76 mins), Nikodem Kozlowski for Kelly (76 mins). 

REFEREE: Daniel Murphy.