Disappointment for Treaty United as They Lose out to Athlone

Treaty United were unable to build on last weekend’s victory over league leaders Cork City as they lost 2-0 to bottom side Athlone Town in Lissywoolen on Friday night courtesy of goals from Thomas Oluwa and Adam Lennon.

Treaty made one change from the victory over Cork with Colin Conroy replacing the injured Lee Devitt and Leon Kirrane coming onto the Treaty substitutes bench. Success Edogun once again got the nod up front.

The visitors first chance arrived in an opportunistic manner as Dean George capitalised on hesitant play from Patrick Hickey before curling a shot goalwards and forcing a save from Enda Minogue. Immediately afterwards, Thomas Oluwa rolled Sean Guerins before driving to the byline and squaring to Dolia but the winger couldn’t make a proper connection before Adam Lennon’s effort was cleared off the line by Mark Walsh.

Both sides were attempting to play the pacey strikers Oluwa and Edogun in behind the defence and it almost paid dividends for Treaty when Edogun beat Andy Spain in a foot race but he allowed Minogue too much time to close the angle and block the shot.

Athlone felt hard done by as they had a goal disallowed on the half hour mark when Dolia did superbly to rescue the ball from going to out of play and he played the ball into Armstrong who lofted a perfectly waited pass to Adam Lennon who lobbed Brady but the linesman had his flag up for offside.

Minutes later, Athlone did take the lead as Treaty were caught in possession in their own half and Oisin Duffy played Oluwa through and and he slid the ball beyond Brady. In the next attack, Oluwa received possession from the lively Dolia but Brady narrowed the angle and saved the shot.

As we awaited the half-time whistle, Guerins directed a header wide from Ludden’s corner. At half-time, Tommy Barrett introduced Joe Collins in place of Martin Coughlan as Treaty changed their personnel with George and Edogun switching positions.

Willie Armshaw was uncharacteristically quiet in the first half but he skipped by Jarlaith Jones early in the second half but Edogun missed a great chance at the back post. Treaty were much better at the beginning of the second half but after Conroy’s pull-back wasn’t met by Armshaw at the edge of the area, Oluwa was sent clear but Guerins and Walsh managed to push the striker wide and he subsequently blazed high and wide.

Despite promising signs in the opening stages of the second period, the home side doubled their lead when Oluwa was set free down the left hand side before passing across the box to Lennon who scuffed a shot past Brady.

Treaty made a number of changes with Joel Coustrain, Conor Melody and Steven Christopher being introduced and the team shape changing to 3-5-2. In the final ten minutes, Ludden won a corner and took it quickly with George rising highest but his header travelled wide when Minogue had misjudged the flight of the ball.

Despite a lot of crosses into the penalty area, Treaty were unable to put any severe pressure on the home defence and Dermot Lennon’s side managed the final stages well to earn their third victory of the season. Attention will now turn to the FAI Cup where Treaty take on Maynooth University next Saturday in a bid to reach the quarter-final.

Athlone Town: Minogue, Cian Kelly, Jarlaith Jones, Noah Van Geenan, Andy Spain, Oisin Duffy (Daniel Dobbin 60), Valeri Dolia, Adam Lennon (Donal Curtin 60), Gary Armstrong, Patrick Hickey (Aaron McBride 90), Valeri Dolia (Jack Kavanagh 73), Thomas Oluwa (Omuchere 90)

Treaty United: Jack Brady, Ben O’Riordan (Joel Coustrain 72), Sean Guerins, Mark Walsh, Marc Ludden, Callum McNamara, Colin Conroy (Steven Christopher 57), Martin Coughlan (Joe Collins H/T), Willie Armshaw (Enda Curran 57), Dean George, Success Edogun(Conor Melody 72)