TREATY United moved up to 4th place in the Airtricity League First Division following a 2-0 victory over Athlone Town at the Markets Field on Monday night.
Dean George scored a brace against his former club having come off the bench to replace the injured Kieran Hanlon.
Manager Tommy Barrett named an unchanged side from the big victory over Waterford FC ten days ago with Hanlon partnering Curran up front and Joe Collins and Callum McNamara forming the midfield.
In a very uneventful first half, Stephen Kenny was at the heart of the Athlone attacks and his curling effort from a short corner sailed over the crossbar.
Experienced goalkeeper Michael Schilngermann looked shaky with the ball at his feet and the netminder’s poor clearance fell straight to Enda Curran but the striker hit his shot straight at the recovering Schlingermann.
Midway through the first half, Athlone failed to sufficiently clear a Marc Ludden throw-in and Joe Collins effort was palmed out by Schlingermann and Hanlon’s follow up effort was blocked by a defender.
The visitors came very close to taking the lead when Youri Habing drilled a shot off the crossbar from all of 25 yards.
As half-time approached, Barrett’s side took the lead when Steven Christopher picked up possession on the left hand side and delivered an inviting cross for Matt Keane who headed towards goal and was denied by Schlingermann before substitute Dean George tapped home from close range.
At the beginning of the second half, Martin Russell’s visitors created a good chance to equalise when Success Edogun picked up possession on the edge of the box and forced a big save from Jack Brady.
Treaty doubled their lead when Callum McNamara played a through ball for Christopher who was denied by Schlingermann but George was following up once more to tap into an empty net to grab his second of the game.
The home side could have added another when Christopher blasted a shot over the bar from the edge of the area following neat build-up play.
Barrett introduced a trio of subs in the second period and one of those substitutes was Willie Armshaw who broke away on the right wing before passing to Chrisopher who teed up another substitute in Lee Devitt and the returning midfielder fired just wide as Treaty looked to add a third goal.
Treaty will now face Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday night as they look to remain in the play-off spots going into the Easter weekend.
Treaty United: Jack Brady, Charlie Fleming, Mark Walsh, Joe Gorman, Marc Ludden, Callum McNamara (Lee Devitt 75), Joe Collins, Matt Keane (Willie Armshaw 75), Steven Christopher, Enda Curran (Joel Coustrain 75), Kieran Hanlon (Dean George 36)
Athlone Town: Michael Schlingermann, Daniel Dobbin (Cian Kelly 64), Andy Spain, Oisin Duffy, Stephen Kenny, Aaron McBride, Gary Armstrong, Thomas Oluwa, Success Edogun, Carlton Ubeuanuzu (Derek Daly 64)
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