Wexford FC 0 Treaty United 2
Treaty United have secured a spot in this year’s First Division play-offs after two second half goals earned a convincing 2-0 win away to Wexford FC.
Treaty headed into tonight needing only a point to guarantee their fifth-place finish, but manager Tommy Barrett insisted they had “nothing to lose” and promised they would go for all three points.
It was a relatively tame first half at Ferrycarrig Park, with only half-chances for either side.
The hosts started the brighter of the two, with Ajibola Oluwabiyi firing just over the bar in the first minute.
But after the first 15 minutes, Treaty grew into the game and began to dominate, having the best chances of the half.
Lee-J Lynch’s half-volley was tipped over by Wexford goalie Paul Martin. Lynch then linked up well with Patrick Ferry on the left-hand side, with Ferry’s low driven effort palmed behind for a corner on the half-hour mark.
It was Ferry who gave Treaty the lead just four minutes into the second half, bundling in the from rebound from practically on the line after Mark Byrne’s parried effort.
The goal came following a quick counterattack from a Wexford corner and a lovely through ball by Lynch to Byrne.
The Shannonsiders doubled their lead after 66 minutes when Lynch again linked up with Byrne, who turned in the winger’s cross on the volley from close range.
Wexford never really looked like scoring, failing to register a shot on target in the second half.
Dean Larkin volleyed home in stoppage time but was offside, capping off a night to forget for the Youths.
Treaty put in a very competent defensive performance, easily dealing with their opponents’ route-one approach. Richkov Boevi looked particularly comfortable at the back.
Treaty will now face second placed Cobh Ramblers in a two-legged play-off fixture.
The first leg takes place in Markets Field next Friday, with the second leg in Cobh on the following Tuesday.
The winner of that faces the winner of the other play-off between Bray Wanderers and UCD.
Should Treaty get that far they will face Waterford FC, who finished second bottom in the Premier Division, for a chance to play in the Premier Division for the first time in their history.