No goals as Longford Town earn a point against Treaty United

Lack of scoring power is costing Longford Town dearly in the SSE Airtricity League First Division this season and it was the same problem in the scoreless draw against Treaty United at the Markets Field in Limerick on Friday night.

Treaty United . . . 0    Longford Town . . . 0 

At least the midlanders managed to pick up a point with the return of Aaron Doran to the starting team a boost in the battle to pull away from the bottom end of the table and the manager Wayne Groves will be hoping for a win away to Athlone Town on Easter Monday, kick-off 5pm. 

Both teams had to adapt to the wet conditions in the opening stages. A brief, but heavy downpour pre-match ensured that the first touches of those on the field would be tested early on. 

The home side had much of the ball in the opening exchanges and registered their first shot on goal after ten minutes through Healy. 

A well worked corner routine found the midfielder on the edge of the box but his effort was always rising over Kian Moore's crossbar. 

Longford recorded their first shot on Brady's goal moments later through Cole Omorehiomwan.

A Town  throw-in was allowed to bounce in the Treaty box but like Healy minutes before, the Omorehiomwan effort flashed over the Treaty crossbar.

The home side were beginning to find their rhythm after a quarter of an hour with the likes of Eric Yoro (the former Longford player) and Folarin Oyenuga getting their feet on the ball around the middle of the park. 

Treaty were nearly fortuitously handed the lead on 25 minutes when Yoro crossed into the Longford box from the left-hand side.

His effort took a deflection on the way through and just evaded the bottom corner of Moore's goal, flashing past the outside of the post. 

Both sides would share bouts of possession for the remainder of the first half but with little goal-mouth action to show at either end, the scoreline remained 0-0 at the break.  

Treaty started the second half on a positive note with Ohin stinging the hands of opposing keeper Moore inside the first 60 seconds. 

Ben Feeney also tested Moore after 55 minutes when he was expertly found at the back post by Oyenuga but unfortunately for the Shannonsiders, his effort was collected comfortably by the Longford shot-stopper. 

Feeney was involved in the attack yet again moments later but his curling effort from the edge of the box was wide of the mark.

Bottom of the table Treaty were beginning to turn the screw with little over an hour gone at the Markets Field as this time it was Mark Murphy who went close with an effort from close range.

Treaty keeper Jack Brady (ex-Longford) was called into action after 70 minutes when he was tested from point blank range but he made a good save. 

Longford were beginning to pose a threat to the Treaty goal as the game entered the closing stages but were still left searching for that elusive first goal in this contest. 

Substitute Dean Williams went close for the visitors after 78 minutes when his curling effort veered just wide of Brady's post.

The visitors thought they had taken the lead after 88 minutes when substitute Pharrell Manuel guided an effort towards the bottom corner but Brady was excellent in getting down low to deny the midfielder a late winner.  

TREATY UNITED: Brady, Lynch, Healy, Curtis, Feeney, Yoro (Jones 75 mins), Folarin Oyenuga (Manning 75 mins), Walsh, Lynch, Foley, Murphy (Cunningham 68 mins). 

LONGFORD TOWN: KianMoore, Osaze Irhue, Cole Omorehiomwan, Conor Errity, Taylor McCarthy, Aaron Doran (Sean Moore 79 mins), Alex O'Brien, Jake Hough, Andy Paraschiv (Pharrell Manuel 79 mins), Stefan Ugbesia (Dean Williams 68 mins), Francis Campbell (Daragh Murtagh 68 mins).  

REFEREE: Rob Hennessy.