Matchday 36 Preview

This is it. Do or die. The last dance and the last chance. It all comes down to this game for the final play-off spot. Treaty must beat Waterford and hope other results go their way on the final day of what has proved an epic run in.

Match Details:

Teams – Waterford FC Vs Treaty United

Competition – SSE Airtricity League of Ireland First Division

Date – Friday, October 20.

Time – 19:45

Venue –  Regional Sports Centre, Cork Rd, Waterford.

Tickets – https://www.eticketing.co.uk/waterfordfc/

Officials:

Referee – Chris Sheehan

Assistants – Trevor Cotter & Ricky Crean

Live Coverage:

The game will be streamed live on LOITV at the below link. Individual match passes can be purchased for €5 or viewers can purchase a season pass which will give them access to all games across the League of Ireland.

https://www.loitv.ie/en-int/livestream/waterford-v-treaty-united/1651309

Treaty United

Momentum was slightly stalled last Saturday as Tommy Barrett’s men were beaten 4-1 by First Division champions Galway.

However, Athlone’s 4-1 defeat away to Finn Harps and Bray’s 2-2 draw with Longford mean that Treaty go into the last round of fixtures still in with a chance of making the play offs.

Unbeaten in four games before the Galway fixture, Treaty United will give it their all and will take confidence from a good run of form.

They must win and hope that Athlone either fall to defeat against Longford or draw.

A draw at Lissywollen would mean Treaty would have to beat Waterford by quite a few goals to claim the final play-off spot. The current goal difference is four but matching that would still leave Treaty short as the next tie break is goals scored. Athlone’s 55 is superior to Treaty’s 49.

Jordon Tallon and Sean Guerins are doubts for the Limerick side.

Waterford

Waterford haven’t won in three league games but given their comfortable position in second with a play-off spot long secured, this is understandable as they prepare for an extension to their season with a Premier Division place up for grabs once the regular league season finishes.

In Ronan Coughlan, they boast the first division’s top scorer with 32 to his name so far this season. 

Past Meetings

In ten competitive meetings between the two sides, Waterford have very much held the upper hand with five wins to Treaty’s two.

Last season’s play-off semi-finals will live long in the memory. Waterford seemingly finished the tie at the Markets Field with a 4-1 victory, scoring twice late on after Colin Conroy was sent off in controversial circumstances. However, the second leg saw Treaty take a 3-1 lead into half-time with two Marc Ludden penalties and a Lee Devitt strike fuelling hope of an unlikely turnaround.

A second half rally saw Waterford into the final where they dispatched Galway United 3-0. Promotion was not to be, though, with a defeat to UCD in the promotion/relegation decider consigning them to another season in the First Division. 

June’s 7-0 defeat at the RSC was one to forget for Treaty fans but a creditable 2-2 draw last time out with a stunner from Success Edogun heralding a second-half comeback which kept Treaty in the play-off mix heading into the last part of the season. 

Past results

D – (2-2, Home, Aug ‘23)

L – (7-0, Away, June ’23)

L – (1-4, Home, Apr ’23)

D – (3-3, Away, Oct ’22) Play off

L – (1-4, Home, Oct ’22) Play off

L – (3-0, Away, Oct ’22)

L – (1-2, Home, Aug ’22)

L – (4-0, Away, May ’22)

W – (2-1, Home, Mar ’22)

W – (2-0, Home, Feb ‘22) Munster Senior Cup