Treaty United Play-off Place Confirmed Despite Waterford Defeat

Treaty United’s participation in this season’s promotion/relegation playoff series despite a 3-0 away defeat to Waterford United at the RSC on Friday night. Wexford’s 0-0 draw at Turners Cross with Cork City resulted in Cork being crowned champions but also means that Ian Ryan’s side cannot catch Treaty in fifth place. Jose Quitirna, Raul Uche and Phoenix Patterson accounted for Waterford’s goals on the night as they extended their lead in 2nd place to three points.

Treaty’s management team made two changes to the team who drew with Galway United last week with Callum McNamara returning in place of Conor Melody and Conor Winn replacing Jack Brady. Mark Walsh moved into midfield with Lee Devitt and Jack Lynch with Steven Christopher moving to the left wing.

In the early stages at the RSC, Treaty midfielder Devitt was allowed to travel a great distance with the ball and forced two saves from Paul Martin. In fact, the away side were in the ascendancy and looking to build on their recent good form.

However, Danny Searle’s men began to take control of possession and territory on the quarter hour mark, and they exerted a lot of pressure on the Treaty defence and Patterson’s lofted ball was headed into the path of Daragh Power who fired wide from just inside the area. The visitors received a let off as we approached the half hour mark when Power’s shot was parried back into the danger area and Raul Uche tapped into an empty net, but the linesman ruled it out for offside.

Both Waterford full-backs were causing Treaty all sorts of problems and it was Tummise Sobowale’s teasing cross across the six-yard box that was tapped into an empty net by Uche. At half-time, Tommy Barrett introduced Success Edogun in place of Enda Curran. Patterson had the first chance of the second half as his free kick was saved by Winn.

Treaty United felt they had strong claims for a penalty when Edogun pounced on a poor pass from Shane Griffin and was tackled by Killian Cantwell, but referee Kevin O’Sullivan waved away protestations and gave Jack Lynch a yellow card. The home side extended their lead when Patterson received possession from Roland Idowu on the left before cutting in and firing past Winn.

A number of changes were made by both sides as attentions began to turn to next week’s FAI Cup semi-final clashes. Joel Coustrain and Matt Keane were also introduced by Treaty while Waterford replaced star striker Patterson who received a standing ovation for his efforts from the home crowd.

Steven Christopher’s free kick delivery to the back-post was met powerfully by Callum McNamara but Paul Martin palmed the header away from danger. Idowu struck the post from the edge of the area as news filtered through that Galway United had thrown away a lead to trail Athlone 2-1. Realistically, it is certainly not the news Treaty were hoping for as they will face tonight’s opponents in a two-legged play-off as it stands with two league games remaining.

With time running out, Idowu was in the thick of the action again as he flicked the ball into the path of the advancing centre-back Richard Taylor, but he somehow placed the ball wide with the goal at his mercy. Devitt had his third and the game’s final shot in the dying moments when Waterford failed to clear Ludden’s corner but it failed to trouble Paul Martin.

Treaty will now prepare for an historic FAI Cup semi-final trip to Derry on Sunday week in a game that will be live on RTE 2. They return to league action the following week with a final night game with Wexford FC at the Markets Field.

Waterford United: Paul Martin, Tummise Sobowale, Killian Cantwell, Alex Baptiste (Richard Taylor 64), Daragh Power, Niall O’Keefe (Yassine En-Neyah H/T), Shane Griffin (Dean Larkin 71), Roland Idowu, Junior Quitrina (Wassim Aouchria (62), Raul Uche, Phoenix Patterson (Remi Thompson 62).

Treaty United: Conor Winn, Ben O’Riordan, Sean Guerins, Callum McNamara (Joel Coustrain 81), Marc Ludden, Mark Walsh, Lee Devitt, Jack Lynch (Matt Keane 66), Willie Armshaw (Joel Coustrain 68), (Fionn Doherty 81), Steven Christopher, Enda Curran (Success Edogun H/T)