Treaty United suffer defeat to Longford in re-fixed First Division clash at Markets Field

TREATY United suffered a disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Longford Town in a refixture of Friday evening’s storm-hit game in the SSE Airtricity League First Division which was played at the Markets Field on Sunday afternoon.

Despite winning just two of their last eleven games, fifth-placed Treaty United cling to the final promotion playoff spot, with only the bare minimum separating them from sixth-placed Wexford, who suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat to UCD on Sunday.

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Sunday's loss for Treaty, however, has given Longford the chance to make a late push for the promotion playoffs, with just three points now separating them from the Garryowen-based side.

Although the weather had improved considerably from Friday, conditions still made for anything but free-flowing football.

It was the home side who created the bulk of the early opportunities, with Mark Byrne and Patrick Ferry testing Kian Moore with early saves.

In the 11th minute, it looked as though Ferry had broken the deadlock. The former Finn Harps man capitalised on a defensive error to unleash a powerful low shot toward goal, only for Moore to get down and make a top-class save, parrying the ball off the crossbar.

Longford, however, were the first to score nine minutes later. Stefan Ugbesia picked up possession at the edge of the box and forced a strong save from Corey Chambers, but Aaron Doran was quickest to react to the rebound, burying the ball into the empty net.

Mark Byrne tried to respond for the home side three minutes later, but his curling effort sailed high and wide of the post, before Karl O’Sullivan followed up with a shot that flew over the bar.

In the 32nd minute, Treaty went close again when Richkov Boevi’s thundering header was parried by Moore. Eoin Martin followed up on the rebound, but his effort was blocked by a wall of Longford bodies on the goal line.

Right on the stroke of halftime, it looked as if the Shannonsiders had secured a deserved equaliser. Karl O’Sullivan and Ferry combined to slip through Mark Byrne, but the former Sligo Rovers man saw his effort brilliantly tipped away by the fingertips of Kian Moore.

Immediately after the restart, O’Sullivan went close for the home side before Ferry netted a deserved equaliser in the 49th minute. Lee Devitt cushioned a lofted ball into the path of the onrushing Ferry, who slipped past his marker and buried a low shot into the corner of the net.
 

However, as the Shannonsiders pushed for a second, Longford picked them off with ease on the counter. Nine minutes later, Osaze Irhue marauded forward down the left wing before neatly squaring a pass to Ugbesia, who calmly dispatched the ball into the back of the net to restore the Midlanders’ advantage.

As the visitors dropped into a low block to protect their lead, it was Treaty who looked more likely to concede, with Longford poised to strike on the counterattack and the Shannonsiders unable to create anything substantial.

Three minutes from time, it looked as though Longford might seal the victory as Emre Topcu and Irhue combined, but Chambers stood firm to make the save.

Ben Lynch and Lee Devitt tried their luck in added time, and in the seventh minute of stoppage, Ben Lee rose highest to meet a Devitt free kick, but his header sailed well wide as Longford held on for a crucial three points.

Next up for Tommy Barrett’s men is a visit from high-flying Bray Wanderers to the Markets Field this Friday, 7.45pm, before the final-round showdown with Wexford.

Treaty United: Corey Chambers, Evan O’Connor, Richkov Boevi, Ben Lynch, Colin Conroy, Eoin Martin, Karl O’Sullivan, Mark Byrne, Lee Devitt, Conor Wilson, Patrick Ferry. Substitutes: Lee Lynch for Wilson 46 mins, Niko Kozlowski for O’Connor 74 mins, Roy Lawlor for Byrne 74 mins, Ben Lee for Conroy 83 mins, Trpimir Virljicak for Martin 90 mins.

Longford Town: Kian Moore, Osaze Irhue, Oisin Hand, Erick Yoro, Sean Moore, Alex O’Brien, Aaron Doran, Emre Topcu, Pharrell Manuel, Dean George, Stefan Ugbesia. Substitutes: Dean Norris for George 79 mins, Emmanuel James for Ugbesia 79 mins, Aaron Walsh for Doran 90.

Referee: Daryl Carolan.