League Report: Treaty United 1 - 4 Waterford
Credit: Liam Coughlan (ETPhotos)
A Ronan Coughlan hat-trick steered Waterford to their fifth win in a row under newly-appointed boss Keith Long.
The Blues have been on a roll under their new manager and came into the game on the back of a pulsating 4-3 win over Athlone Town on Friday night.
And the win means they have now moved to within seven points of league leaders Galway United.
But for Coughlan, he has now scored seven goals in his last two games for Waterford.
The former Huddersfield Town youngster opened the scoring in the 19th minute from the spot.
The striker was felled by Treaty United defender Ben O’Riordan just as the Blues hitman was about to score – but Coughlan made no mistake from the spot.
And just four minutes later he doubled their lead after he got on the end of a sweeping move.
Defender Giles Phillips sprayed the ball out wide to Dean McMenamy who found the striker who found the net with minimal fuss.
The second half however started well for Tommy Barrett’s hosts, with Dean George prodding home after Willie Armshaw’s cross caused chaos in the Waterford defence.
But that optimism dissipated quickly when Ryan Burke scored just moments after the hour mark to make it 3-1 with a convincing low finish.
And Coughlan then grabbed his hat-trick in the 67th after latching onto an exquisite through ball played through by Connor Parsons.
One-on-one with Shane Hallahan, the former St Patrick’s Athletic blasted his shot into the top corner as Waterford cruised to a 4-1 victory.
Treaty United: Shane Hallahan; Scott Kirkland (Alec Byrne 46), Darren Nwankwo, Ben O'Riordan, Andy Spain (Stephen Christopher 72); William Armshaw (Niko Kozlowski 78), Martin Coughlan (Conor Barry 72), Lee Devitt Molloy, Colin Kelly; Darren Collins, Success Edogun (Dean George 46).
Subs not used: Joshua Coady, Robbie Lynch, Colin Conroy.
Booked: Lee Devitt Molloy (18), Andy Spain (24).
Waterford: Paul Martin; Ryan Burke, Dean Larkin, Giles Phillips, Tunmise Sobowale; Barry Baggley (Roland Idowu 84), Shane Griffin (Chris Conn-Clarke 79), Dean McMenamy (Eddie Nolan 84), Niall O'Keeffe (Romeo Akachukwu 89), Connor Parsons; Ronan Coughlan (Thomas Oluwa 79).
Subs not used: Tom Donaghy, Killian Cantwell, Ronan Mansfield.
Booked: Ryan Burke (20).
Referee: Marc Lynch.
extratime.com Player of the Match: Ronan Coughlan (Waterford).
