Longford Town back on track with vital victory over Treaty United

Boosted by a bad blunder by the Treaty United FC keeper Jack Brady that led directly to the gift goal scored by Alex O’Brien with just seven minutes gone in the game, a vital victory materialised for Longford Town FC in the league clash at Bishopsgate on Friday night.

Longford Town . . . 3 Treaty United . . . 1

Brady raced out on the ball in his frantic attempt to deal with the danger but his terrible clearance ended up in the path of O’Brien who lobbed his long range strike over the head of the stranded Treaty netminder in finding the back of the net.

Just before the break, a low drive from Andy Paraschiv was well saved by Brady and other chances were squandered by both sides in the second half before the Town striker Dean Williams latched on to a terrific cross from influential substitute Pharrell Manuel to fire home the killer second goal in the 68th minute.

It was a tremendous piece of skill from Williams who won the ball with a deft first touch and then dummied his way past a Treaty defender before hitting the target with a clinical finish.

While there was a late, late glimmer of hope for Limerick club Treaty United with a stoppage time goal from substitute Ben Feeney, who was in an offside position, another Town replacement Francis Campbell then shot to the net to make absolutely certain of all three points for the home side.

After letting a win slip from their grasp in the draw against Finn Harps the previous week, Longford got back on track to remain on course for a place in the First Division promotion play-offs and the players can now enjoy the mid-season break before the action resumes at home to Cobh Ramblers on Saturday June 13th.

LONGFORD TOWN: Kian Moore; Osaze Irhue, Jamie Egan, Taylor McCarthy, Jake Hough; Stefan Ugbesia, Alex O’Brien, Sean Moore, Andy Paraschiv; Dean Williams, Daragh Murtagh.

Subs:- Cole Omorehiomwan for Egan (injured, 59 mins); Pharrell Manuel for Ugbesia (63 mins); Francis Campbell for Williams; Daniel McKenna for O’Brien and Kobichidi Ndebumadu for S Moore (all in the 85th minute).

TREATY UNITED: Jack Brady; Darren Nwankwo, Robbie Lynch, Kyle Foley; Eric Yoro, Ben Lynch; Mark Murphy, Ronan Manning, Steven Healy; Cian Curtis, Folarin Oyenuga Jason.

Subs:- Mark Byrne for Yoro (half-time); Raphael Ohin for Healy (59 mins); Ben Feeney for Folarin Oyenuga Jason (66 mins); Fionn Doherty for Lynch and Brian Cunningham for Murphy (both in the 83rd minute).

Referee: Glen Geraghty.