Longford Town suffer disappointing defeat against Treaty United

Treaty United . . . 3    Longford Town . . . 2

Second from bottom in the SSE Airtricity League First Division, the Limerick side gained their first victory this season at the expense of fellow strugglers Longford with the midlanders coming from behind twice before Treaty substitute Dean George popped up with a 82nd minute winning goal from a header.  

Aaron Walsh made the Town bench for the first time this season after recovering from injury.

Treaty went in front in the sixth minute. Conor Barry latched into a pass down the left before picking out Enda Curran with a pinpoint centre. Striker Curran was fouled on the edge of the penalty area.

Up stepped Lee Devitt to fire the ball to the net from the resultant free-kick, despite the best efforts of Longford keeper Jack Brady to keep it out. Brady transferred from Treaty United for the current season. 

Treaty's lead didn't last long however as the visitors responded impressively to falling behind. In the 20th minute Francis Campell was played in behind the Treaty defence with a well-judged pass and his initial attempt on goal was parried by the advancing 'keeper Shane Hallahan.

However, the alert Campbell pounced on the loose ball as it broke to him and he finished clinically to the net for the equaliser. 

Longford threatened to go in front just after the half hour mark when Campbell collected the ball on the right wing. His cross was cleared and while  the Longford goalscorer was found again by Aodh Dervin, this time he flashed his shot wide. 

Treaty had a rare opportunity to retake the lead 10 minutes before half-time when Willie Armshaw collected possession on the left edge of the penalty area. However, Longford keeper Brady denied his former team mate with a smart save to keep the game deadlocked.

Treaty United replaced striker Enda Curran, who had taken a knock in the first half, with Success Edogun at half-time.

It was Longford who created the opening opportunity in the second half when Derek Daly crossed from the right. However, Viktor Serdeniuk's effort on goal flew high and wide.

When the next goal arrived it came for the home team and what a stunning effort it was in the 50th minute. Success Edogun collected a pass 25 yards from goal and flashed a thunderbolt of a strike high into the roof of the Longford net past a helpless Brady.

The Town got back on level terms in the 79th minute when a tantalising cross from substitute Adam Verdon was finished  to the net by Joshua Giurgi - his third goal in two games. 

The drama was not done yet, however, as Treaty United hit the front again in the 85th minute. Longford keeper Brady did well to keep out an initial effort on goal before the rebound fell to substitute Dean George who headed home for the winner. 

Longford Town manager Stephen Henderson will be hoping that his side can bounce back on track when they take on Wexford FC at Bishopsgate next Saturday, April 15th. 

TREATY UNITED: Shane Hallahan, Ben O'Riordan, Lee Devitt, Anthony O'Donnell, Conor Barry, Alec Byrne, Stephen Christopher, Andrew Spain, Willie Armshaw (Dean George 65 mins), Enda Curran (Success Edogun 46 mins), Mark Walsh (Colin Conroy 85 mins).

LONGFORD TOWN: Jack Brady; Shane Elworthy, Cian Byrne, Oisin Hand, Kyle O’Connor; Gary Armstrong (Jamal Ibrahim 68 mins), Aodh Dervin, Viktor Serdeniuk (Mohammed Boudiaf 82 mins), Derek Daly (Adam Verdon 68 mins); Kyle O'Connor, Francis Campbell, Joshua Giurgi. 

REFEREE: Declan Toland.