Adam O’Halloran and David Tarmey were super-subs for the Super Blues
Treaty United 3 Longford Town 1
Treaty United have recorded back-to back-victories in the League of Ireland First Division after a 3-1 win over Longford Town in Markets Field on Friday Night. Goals from Lee Devitt, Adam O’Halloran and David Tarmey did the job for the Shannonsiders as they claimed a 10th league win of the season.
United made three changes to the side that beat Cobh Ramblers earlier this week, as Colin Conroy, Yoyo Mahdy & Trpimir Vrljičak came in for David Tarmey and the injured duo of Lee J Lynch & Leon Kirrane.
Despite the game taking a while to get going, the game’s first opportunity fell to the home side in the fifth minute as Lee Devitt had a shot which went over the bar from outside the box. Treaty were much more in control of possession in the early proceedings, but Longford never panicked as they registered their first on target thanks to a long-range effort from Viktor Serdeniuk only a few moments later.
The Limerick side continued to make good use of the ball as Lee Devitt won a foul before his cross from the free kick was met at the far post by Colin Conroy, but his header found the side netting. Kozlowski whipped in a corner which Richkov Boevi headed back into the area where Trpimir Vrljičak turned and just missed by a few inches.
The injury list grew further for Treaty as Alec Byrne was forced to withdraw after 22 minutes on the clock, and was duly replaced by Stephen Healy.
Treaty were in the ascendancy and looked to be more willing to go forward than Longford. Their patience was rewarded as they took a 29th minute lead courtesy of a lovely chip over the head of Harry Halwax from Lee Devitt, with Yoyo Mahdy flicking it on to grab an assist. It was United’s first shot on target.
Longford did have a chance to equalise but Jordan Adeyemo’s free-kick effort was ballooned well over the bar. It was comfortable for the Treaty men thereafter, with the game approaching half-time. This is despite being only being one goal to the good, as Longford were lacking a real creative threat in attack.
Longford captain Jamie Egan found himself in the United box. However, his effort was blazed over once again in the 44th minute, which was arguably the Bishopsgate club’s best opportunity of the game at that stage.
Treaty though could not hold out until the half-time break as a long throw-in from their former player Dean O’Shea was headed out before Emre Topcu’s terrific volley found the bottom corner of the net. His stunning strike left the sides level at 1-1 going into the second half.
Longford were slightly the better side at the start of the half but still couldn’t muster a chance of any real quality, and Treaty were not much different. It took until the 61st minute for Treaty’s first second-half shot on goal, coming from Yoyo Mahdy but his effort was far too tame. A poor kick out from Halwax came into Mahdy’s path but his shot was well wide.
With the hosts needing a spark, Tommy Barrett introduced both David Tarmey and Adam O’Halloran. His faith in them paid off as O’Halloran, just three minutes after being brought on, latched onto a loose ball after Lee Devitt’s effort from outside the box was saved. The rebound fell into O’Halloran’s path for the 17-year-old’s first senior goal in just seven appearances, as well to restore the home side’s lead.
Treaty were very compact at the back heading into the final 10 minutes as they aimed to hold out to secure a second win in a row. Boevi’s headed effort towards the goal was saved comfortably by Halwax just moments before Eric Christopher Yoro had a glorious opportunity to level. He couldn’t get his feet sorted in time though, and failed to find the target.
Well into additional time, Treaty made sure of all three points thanks to David Tarmey’s nicely taken finish on 93 minutes after he was played through by Stephen Healy.
The solid performance sees Treaty United record consecutive victories for only the third time this season, sitting at seventh in the table with the playoffs out of sight of their 39-point tally. Their midland counterparts on the night see themselves propping up the league, on just 24 points.
Player of the Match: Lee Devitt (Treaty United)
Treaty United: Michael Dike, Christopher Horgan, Evan O’Connor, Richkov Boevi, Oisin O’Reilly, Colin Conroy, Nikodem Kozlowski (Adam O’ Halloran, 64’), Lee Devitt (Sean Costelloe, 94’)Alec Byrne (Stephen Healy, 22’), Trpimir Vrljičak, Yoyo Mahdy (David Tarmey, 64’)
Longford Town: Harry Halwax, Kyle O’Connor, Jamie Egan, Viktor Serdeniuk, Jordan Adeyemo, Eric Christopher Yoro , Adam Wixted (Shane Elworthy, 77’), Daniel Norris, Emre Topcu, Karl Chambers (Emmanuel James, 77’), Dean O’Shea