League Report: Athlone Town 1 - 0 Treaty United

Eanna Mackey reports from Athlone Town Stadium

Treaty United were left frustrated in the Midlands as their winless run was extended to four games following a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Athlone Town in the First Division on Monday evening.

The Shannonsiders have now failed to score 270 minutes of football having failed to score against an Athlone side winless in six until tonight’s fixture.

17-year-old Limerickman Michael Dyke made his league debut for Treaty, replacing Corey Chambers in goals. 

However, he was soon forced to pick the ball out of his net on the quarter-hour mark after a long ball from the Athlone defence found the unmarked Connolly who slotted it into the bottom corner. 

Moments later Connolly had Dike scrambling again as his shot from outside the box dipped narrowly over the bar.

Treaty seemed to struggle to find their rhythm on the synthetic surface in the opening quarter, with their first attempt on goal coming in the twentieth minute as Armshaw drove his shot from distance well over the crossbar.

That seemed to spark the Shannonsiders into life. Minutes later a lofted Armshaw cross from deep was met with a glancing header from Byrne forcing a fingertip save from Minogue in the Athlone net. 

From the subsequent corner, Mahdy drove Armshaw’s low cross well wide of the target.

A lovely piece of one-touch play involving Armshaw, Byrne, and Christopher then carved open the Athlone defence but Mahdy dragged his shot just wide.

Athlone game came close to doubling their advantage just before the interval as Jones beat two Treaty defenders before his goal-bound shot was deflected over the crossbar by the head of O’Connor.

Treaty then came inches away from levelling the game on the stroke of halftime when captain Mark Walsh’s attempted bicycle kick went just wide of the post.

In search of a second-half equaliser, half-chances fell to Lynch and Considine before Mujaguzi responded for the home side with a driven shot just wide of the post.

Connolly had a gilt edge chance to double his tally and Athlone’s lead in the seventy-fifth minute after a mistake from Walsh left a clear run at goal. However, Dike made a strong save with his feet to keep Treaty in the game.

Treaty continued in search of an equaliser. Substitute Byrne controlled the ball in the box but drove his effort over. A last-minute long throw fell to O’Riordan but his laced effort drove agonisingly wide of the post.

Treaty will hope to get back to winning ways away from home this Friday as they face a trip to the South-East against Wexford.

Athlone Town: Enda Minogue; Oisin Duffy, German Fuentes Rodriguez, Dylan Hand, Jarlath Jones; Aaron Connolly, Jamal Ibrahim (Jamar Campion-Hinds 80), Matthew Leal (Rúben Candal 54), Daniel McKenna, Carl Mujaguzi (Brian Torre 79); Dean Ebbe (Armado Oakley 65).

Subs not used: Andrew Trainor, Roscoe Rubenstein, Gideon Tetteh, Divine Izekor, Dylan Gavin.

Treaty United: Michael Dike; Robbie Lynch, Evan O'Connor, Oisín O'Reilly, Ben O'Riordan; William Armshaw (Fionn Doherty 78), Alec Byrne, Stephen Christopher, Thomas Considine (Enda Curran 69), Mark Walsh; Yousef Mahdy (Mark Byrne 77).

Subs not used: Conor Wall, Scott Kirkland, Leon Kirrane, Adam O'Halloran, Sean Costelloe, Mark Murphy.

Booked: Oisín O'Reilly (57).

Referee: Mark Houlihan.

Attendance: 783.

extratime.com Player of the Match: Carl Mugajuzi (Athlone Town)