TREATY United picked up an historic first league victory on Friday night as they narrowly beat Wexford FC at the Markets Field. Anthony O’Donnell grabbed the winner in the first half as Tommy Barrett’s side earned their second clean sheet in as many games.
The home side made a bright start with two lung bursting runs from makeshift winger Matt Keane resulting in two dangerous crosses which caused problems for debutant Jimmy Corcoran in the visiting goal.
The first big chance of the game fell to Brian O’Sullivan’s side as a quick ball over the top of the defence from Karl Manahan caught Sean Guerins out but Jack Doherty’s poked effort was well saved by Shane Cusack who replaced the injured Tadgh Ryan in goals.
Wexford’s centre-back Luke Turner directed a Conor Crowley cross goalwards but Cusack was able to easily gather the attempt as the visitors began to dominate possession.
In the lead up to the game, we had highlighted that Wexford’s main deficiency was defending set-pieces and so it proved once again as Marc Ludden’s teasing delivery was flicked on by captain Jack Lynch before Anthony O’Donnell headed beyond Corcoran to score the club’s first competitive goal.
As we approached the half-time mark, O’Sullivan’s charges should have equalised when Crowley’s low corner was flicked on by Paul Fox but the ever alert Ludden was well positioned to clear off the line.
The second half brought another challenge for Treaty to overcome when midfielder Clyde O’Connell who had just returned from a one-game suspension, was shown two quick-fire yellow cards and Barrett’s team were once again down to ten men following Sean McSweeney’s red card in Bray.
To their credit, Treaty once again limited the clear-cut chances created by their opponents which was down to a combination of effective defending and wastefulness from the likes of Harry Groome and substitutes Success Edogun and Kyle Robinson.
Two clean sheets in two games is an indication of the defensive qualities on show with Anthony O’Donnell, Sean Guerins and Marc Ludden impressing once again. It is a night which will be consigned to the history books in a positive sense as the club’s first every competitive victory and it has been a very bright start to the campaign.
Treaty United: Shane Cusack, Jack Lynch, Sean Guerins, Anthony O’Donnell, Marc Ludden, Clyde O’Connell, Mark Walsh, Ed McCarthy (Callum McNamara), Joel Coustrain (Alan Murphy), Matt Keane, Kieran Hanlon (Matt McKevitt)
Wexford FC: Jimmy Corcoran, Paul Cleary, Jack Connolly (Kyle Robinson), Luke Turner, Alex O’Hanlon, Conor Crowley, Karl Manahan, Karl Fitzsimons, Paul Fox, Jack Doherty, Harry Groome (Success Edogun)
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