Just one win between the sides in either of their last five league games, coming in the form of Treaty’s 4-1 hammering of Longford at Bishopsgate, when Athlone roll into Markets field this Friday the contest will hold very different stakes for both clubs.
Treaty are almost completely out of the playoff picture, and Athlone’s precarious fifth place position within it is now in some serious doubt.
The visitors will come into this game just two points ahead of Ballybofey-based Finn Harps, albeit it with a game in hand, and will look to strengthen that position with a positive result away from home, while Treaty will be fighting to keep any sliver of playing past the 36 game regular season. The home side sit eighth, 12 points off Athlone and will need a miracle even if they win on Friday, but three points would keep their hopes alive.
Goals have been the real struggle for Treaty, only managing to score more than once against their opponents on four occasions since May 10, with a win over amateur side Pike Rovers in a 7-0 cup drubbing included.
Athlone’s leaky defence (14 goals conceded in their last five fixtures) will provide hope of more entertainment amongst the United faithful.
Athlone held Treaty to a 1-0 scoreline in their namesake stadium in the last meeting between the sides, that encounter taking place in late June. Dean Ebbe, joint second place in the league scoring charts, will be crucial for the visitors and if Treaty can stop the service of lively loanee winger Gideon Tetteh, they make their chances all the more likely.
The defence, especially the full-backs like Christopher Horgan, Robbie Lynch and Fionn Doherty will have their work cut out in stemming that supply of service. Centre-halves like Evan O’Connor and Ben O’Riordan will then focus on containing the aforementioned Ebbe, and that’ll allow creative forces like Stephen Christopher and Lee Lynch to create chances for the Markets Field-marksman Enda Curran.
Tickets are available to buy here, and for those unable to make it to the ground the link to purchase a stream of the game on LOITV is here, for the cost of €5.