Athlone Town and Treaty United Share the Spoils in entertaining clash

Treaty United are now four games unbeaten following Friday night’s 1-1 draw with Athlone Town at Lissywoolen. Athlone took the lead with less than 10 minutes to go when Success Edogun scored but Steven Christopher rescued a point with a piledriver from the edge of the box. In truth, Treaty will feel that they had enough chances to win the game.

In a lively opening, from Jack Brady’s goal-kick, Dean George flicked the ball into the path of Steven Christopher who drove down the line before squaring for Enda Curran who placed his shot wide from just inside the area. The former Athlone man would have been disappointed not to hit the target.

Athlone grew in to the game and were looking for the ball in behind to Ubaezuonu on a regular basis but it was Treaty who created the second chance of the game when Lee Devitt switched the play to Marc Ludden and the captain’s cross was picked up by Coustrain whose effort travelled out for a goal kick.

Midway through the first half, Treaty were forced to defend well under pressure as Thomas Oluwa was given possession and his cross had to be cleared by Joe Gorman before McAuley latched onto possession but once again, Treaty dealt with the danger.

The visitors had a great chance to take the lead when Ludden opted to take a short throw when it looked certain to go long in his customary fashion and upon receiving the ball back from Christopher, he floated the ball into the box but Curran’s header just cleared the crossbar. Curran forced a save from Schlingermann as their individual battle continued.

With ten minutes remaining, Athlone created their best chance of the game when Oluwa was played down the left flank and he cut inside Charlie Fleming before shooting but his weak effort went into the path of Ubaezuonu who turned and forced a brilliant save from Brady before Treaty eventually cleared.

As we approached the half-time whistle, Coustrain tried his luck from all of 25 yards but Schlingermann collected comfortably as referee Declan Toland blew the whistle for the break. At the beginning of the second period, Coustrain broke free down the right hand side before squaring to Curran who was denied by Schlingermann.

Immediately after that chance, the home side had a great chance to take the lead when McAuley played the ball to the back post with Oluwa running onto the ball but he drove his effort over the bar when he should have done much better. Treaty manager Tommy Barrett introduced Jack Lynch just after the hour mark and he was involved in creating Treaty’s next chance as his cross was collected by Christopher who put in a dangerous in-swinging cross but Aaron McBride did enough to distract Curran from the flight of the ball.

Christopher was heavily involved once again moments later when Fleming dispossessed Oluwa before playing the ball to the winger who skipped inside Duffy before shooting just wide. With less than ten minutes remaining, Athlone manager Dermot Lennon introduced Success Edogun in place of Carlton Ubaezuonu and within minutes the substitute had scored when Derek Daly received possession on the left hand side and fizzed a cross across the six yard box for Edugon to finish from close range.

Treaty responded well and should have equalised when Lynch’s floated cross was met at the back post by Ludden and somehow Lee Devitt was unable to turn it home from 3 yards out. Treaty did get their equaliser when a poor clearance from Athlone fell to Christopher who rifled it home from the edge of the area.

Despite their efforts to gain a winner, Treaty were unable to score from corner and long throw deliveries. Their unbeaten run is now stretched out to four games ahead of Monday night’s home clash with Wexford FC at the Markets Field.

Athlone Town: Michael Schlingermann, Eugen Slivica, Derek Daly, Andy Spain, Aaron McBride, Gary Armstrong, Oisin Duffy Steven Kenny, Glen McAuley, Thomas Oluwa, Carlton Ubaezuonu (Success Edogun 81)

Treaty United: Jack Brady, Charlie Fleming, Mark Walsh, Joe Gorman, Marc Ludden, Lee Devitt, Joe Collins, Joel Coustrain (Willie Armshaw 76), Steven Christopher, Dean George (Jack Lynch 65), Enda Curran