Longford Town seeking first win of the season at home to Treaty United

Longford Town play Treaty United on Saturday night at Bishopsgate (kick-off 7.30pm) and this will be another tough game for manager Stephen Henderson and his staff as they try to lift the team after two successive home defeats. 

Treaty, on the other hand, are sitting pretty on top of the table alongside Cork City who are favourites to go back up to the Premier Division after being relegated last season. 

The Limerick club, under the expert management of Tommy Barrett, are the surprise team of this season but in Tommy they have a very experienced manager. During the off season Treaty lost quite a few players with two coming to the Town but Barrett didn't panic and he strengthened his squad.

A key factor is the arrival of two players who were in the Galway squad who ran away with the First Division last season, namely Evan O'Connor and Oisin O'Reilly. Last season Enda Curran was scoring at will but he has only scored once this season and that was away to UCD where the Treaty boys won 1-0.

 On the opening day of the season Treaty beat Cobh 3-1, their goals came from a Frahill OG and two from Thomas Considine.

Considine also scored in last weekend's 2-2 against Bray with the other goal coming from Mark Walsh. Treaty also won 1-0 away to Kerry FC with the only goal of the game coming from sub Yousef Mahdy.

 It would be fair to say that Treaty United would be termed our bogey team last season. The first meeting was in the Markets Field and Treaty won 3-2. 

Goals from Molloy, Edogun and Dean George for the home side while Francis Campbell and Josh Giurgi were on target for the Town.

 The next game was at home and it was a disaster. Treaty won 3-0 with goals from Enda Curran (2) and Stephen Christopher and keeper Jack Brady saw red around the hour mark.

 The Town travelled to Limerick for the next game in early August and came away with a 3-2 victory. Treaty's goals came from Adam Lennon and Dean George while the Town's three goals were scored by Gary Armstrong and two from Cristian Magerusan. 

The last meeting between the clubs was in Bishopsgate at the end of September and on that occasion the scoreline was 3-2 in favour of Treaty. 

Dylan Hand and Derek Daly scored for the Town while  Barry (2) and Adam Lennon got the goals for Treaty.  The Town go into Saturday's game ten points behind leaders Cork and Treaty but have two games in hand and all Town supporters will be looking for a change of luck in the upcoming games. 

There is no doubt that Enda Curran is their dangerman but they also have other potential goal scorers. They lost Success Edogun to Finn Harps but manager Barrett has recruited well and there is no doubt that Treaty will be hard to beat.

Many Town supporters wondered why Viktor Serdeniuk and Mo Boudiaf didn't start against Cork, were they carrying knocks? On Saturday's showing both players should be in contention for a start on Saturday against Treaty United.

The Town will have to cut out giving away gifts in defence as there is a big need for three points to kick start the season.

The  Town supporters are a very patient crowd but a win is needed to give them something to shout about. The support is there but we need results not excuses!

SSE Airtricity League First Division

Longford Town v Treaty United

at Bishopsgate Saturday March 16

Kick-off 7.30pm 

Car Boot Sale At Bishopsgate 

Bank Holiday Monday March 18th

Gates open at 5am