Treaty United were eliminated from the play-offs after a spirited display at the RSC on Saturday night. The game finished 3-3 on the night with Waterford running out 7-4 winners on aggregate. Treaty raced into a 1-3 first half lead which brought the deficit back to one goal and the miracle seemed possible but two second half goals from Wassim Aouchria and Phoenix Patterson killed off any hopes of a fightback from the visitors.
Similarly, to last year, Treaty travelled to an away venue knowing that they would need three or more goals to stand a chance of progression to the next phase Tommy Barrett’s side started with real intent and the experienced Marc Ludden led the charge as he overlapped Success Edogun and dispossessed Tummise Sobowale before the right-back fouled Ludden in the penalty area. The left-back converted the spot-kick via the post.
Any chance of a comeback appeared to be snuffed out on 22 minutes when Ludden’s free-kick was cleared but the home side broke up the pitch at lightning speed with Patterson carrying possession into the Treaty half before passing to Aouchria who in turn drew the challenge of Jack Brady before laying the ball off to Sobowale who tapped into an empty net.
However, you can never write off this Treaty team who are full of character and they went on the attack immediately with a trademark Ludden long throw and from the second phase, Matt Keane’s effort was cleared off the line by Sobowale. Moments later, Richard Taylor bundled Edogun over in the box and Ludden regained Treaty’s lead as he smashed the penalty straight down the middle.
Three minutes later, the miracle seemed possible when the instrumental Ludden received possession on the left and delivered a low cross which evaded everyone bar the alert Lee Devitt at the back post who scored with his outstretched left leg to send the Treaty players and supporters wild.
Danny Searle must have rallied the home side at half-time and within ten minutes of the second half, they had scored two goals. Waterford were awarded a controversial penalty when Sean Guerins was adjudged to have tajen down Shane Griffin and Aouchria buried the spot-kick. The home side equalised when Patterson scored a trademark goal, stepping inside Jack Lynch before curling a superb shot beyond Brady.
For the second successive season, Treaty exited the play-offs at the first stage but its been a great achievement by Barrett and co to reach that stage in the first two years of the team’s formation. Treaty were dealt a blow after the game with news that Jack Lynch and Joe Collins are both emigrating. Planning for next season will begin shortly as Barrett attempts to mastermind another onsluaght at the play-offs.