- Aisling Hannon
- Wed, Oct 26 2022
Waterford cruised past Treaty Untied on Wednesday night after an eventful first leg tie of their promotion play-off at Markets Field with star player Phoenix Patterson netting his 22nd goal in all competitions this season.
Danny Searle’s men were the more dominant side in the first half, with player-of-the-season contender Phoenix Patterson scoring after just five minutes of play. Patterson, who has been linked to a move to the Premier Division, collected the ball from Yassine En-Neyah who drifted through the middle of the field to deliver a clean pass to the former Watford under-21 player, who tucked it into the bottom right of Jack Brady’s net.
The Blues had a few more chances, including a powerful ball up the line from former Blackpool defender Alex Baptiste, but it was overhit despite Darragh Power’s best efforts to get on the end of it.
Treaty, who have only won one of their four league encounters with the Blues this season, had a good chance to level the scoreline when Ben O’Riordan put Baptiste under pressure at the corner flag. The corresponding corner kick was whipped in to meet the head of Callum McNamara, but it flashed just wide.
It was near the half hour mark when Patterson netted his second of the night after a pass from Junior Quitirna down the middle set him up to poke it in from a short distance, despite being surrounded by three Treaty defenders.
There were dramatic scenes just before the break when Quitirna was brought down by Treaty’s Willie Armshaw. Although it appeared to be quite a soft challenge, Damien MacGraith pointed to the spot. Quitirna stepped up to take the penalty kick, but the ball hit the base of the right post and rebounded back, with nobody there to deflect it in.
The second half was a cagey affair which saw the forthcoming FAI Cup final referee busy with his cards. It was on the 62-minute mark when Tommy Barrett’s side were gifted a penalty after Richard Taylor brought down Lee Devitt in the box. Top scorer Enda Curran smashed it home for his 20th goal of the season in all competitions.
Substitute Colin Conroy saw yellow after a foul on Tunmise Sobowale and received a second yellow shortly after when he produced a two footed tackle on Wassim Aouachria. It did appear that Conroy had won the ball cleanly, but the referee sent him down the tunnel with 20 minutes to play.
It took Waterford just two minutes after their opponents’ red card to net their third of the night when Treaty captain Marc Ludden mis-kicked a cross from Patterson, leaving it to the feet of Quitirna to slot it in.
Both teams played with high intensity throughout the half, with chances for either side. Timi Sobowale came close in the last minute of normal time following a low pass from Quitirna but his shot went inches wide.
Treaty’s Sean Guerins brought the score line to 4-1 in the dying seconds with an unfortunate own goal after Quitirna cut inside Marc Ludden and slotted a low pass to the middle of the box, where Guerins was standing alone. Unfortunately for Guerins, on his 50thappearance for the club, he poked it towards goal to give Waterford a comfortable win.
The sides will meet at the RSC on Saturday night in the second leg of the promotion play-off. Kick off in Waterford is 19:45pm.
Treaty United: Jack Brady; Stephen Christopher (Success Edogun 75), Sean Guerins, Marc Ludden, Callum McNamara; William Armshaw (Matt Keane 75), Enda Curran (Fionn Doherty 84), Lee Devitt Molloy, Ben O'Riordan (Colin Conroy 52); Jack Lynch, Mark Walsh.
Subs not used: Conor Winn, Scott Kirkland, Martin Coughlan, Joe Collins, Darren Collins.
Booked: Colin Conroy (53 and 68), Mark Walsh (60), Stephen Christopher (64), Jack Lynch (72).
Sent off: Colin Conroy (68).
Waterford: Paul Martin; Alex Baptiste (Richard Taylor 46), Killian Cantwell, Niall O'Keeffe, Darragh Power; Wassim Aouachria (Raul Uche 75), Yassine En-Neyah, Junior Quitirna, Tunmise Sobowale (Oluwatimilehin Sobowale 75); Shane Griffin, Phoenix Patterson.
Subs not used: Brian Murphy, Jeremie Milambo, Eddie Nolan, Remi Thompson, Dean Larkin , Owen Oseni.
Booked: Tunmise Sobowale (10) ,Yassine En-Neyah (32) Wassim Aouachria (66).
Referee: Damien MacGraith
extratime.com Player of the Match: Phoenix Patterson (Waterford)
