MATCH REPORT: Galway United 1-0 Treaty United (Women’s Premier Division)

Galway United went level on points at the top of the Women’s Premier Division on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Treaty United at Eamonn Deacy Park.

Eve Dossen scored in the first half to give the Tribeswomen the three points and their fifth win in six games.

Phil Trill made two changes to his side from their 2-0 win over DLR Waves last Saturday, with Abbie Callanan and Amy Madden coming into the side in place of Gemma McGuinness and Aoibheann Costello.

Neither side was up to much in the opening 15 minutes, with the only involvement of either goalkeeper being from Treaty United’s Anne-Marie Ulliac when she came to claim a high ball in the box from Kate Thompson in the 14th minute.

Jamie Erickson went close in the 17^th minute when she got her head on a Lynsey McKey corner, the ball was blocked but came back out to the defender who struck it on the volley with a Treaty body getting in the way once again to deny the Tribeswomen.

Ulliac denied Aoife Thompson at close range in the 20^th minute when the striker got on the end of a long ball, the shot-stopper was quick off her line to make a good save.

The visitors’ goalkeeper looked like she might well have been able to spend the afternoon frustrating Galway when Kate Thompson struck a beautiful long-distance effort in the 26^th minute, Ulliac just managing to get her fingertips to the ball to flick it onto the crossbar and deny the home side once more.

The deadlock was broken in the 31^st minute however, when McKey floated a corner kick deep into the box, Eve Dossen rose highest to meet the ball at the back post – sending it into the back of the net to put the home side in front.

United were not far off doubling their lead on the hour mark when McKey fancied her chances from long distance with a looping effort from the edge of the box which sailed just wide. Jenna Slattery also went close with a free-kick moments later, with the ball inching just over the bar.

In the 70^th minute, Ulliac pulled off another excellent save to deny McKey when she flicked the midfielder’s shot onto the crossbar. Aoife Thompson followed up with a header on the rebound and the ball looked to have clearly crossed the line by the time Treaty United’s goalkeeper got to it but there was no goal awarded.

McKey hit the post in the 74^th minute after some great build-up play by the home side, the ball looked destined for the back of the net but it struck the bottom of the upright and came back out into play.

There was a scare in the 77^th minute as Treaty substitute Yasmine Saidi got on the ball and very nearly got in on goal, only for the intervention of Jessica Berlin as the pair collided in goal with Erickson following up to clear the ball from danger.

Phil Trill’s side held out for the important win with the visitors rarely testing the United backline throughout.

Galway United: Jessica Berlin; Eve Dossen, Jamie Erickson, Therese Kinnevey, Amy Madden; Isabella Beletic, Lynsey McKey, Jenna Slattery (Nicole McNamara 88), Kate Thompson (Jodie Griffin 78); Abbie Callanan (Anna Fahey 64), Aoife Thompson (Siobhan Doolan 78).

Scorer: E. Dossen (31′).

Treaty United: Anne-Marie Ulliac; Chloe Hennigan, Cooper Lee Lane, Grace McInerney, Alannah Mitchell; Emma Costelloe, Cara Griffin (Ruth McDonnell 78), Jessica Heffernan (Hailey Walsh 46), Aoife Mulkern; Naoise Griffin (Katie Lawlee 59), Kiara Kilbey (Hannah (Yasmine) Saidi 76).

Referee: Marc Lynch.

Galway United now have a by-week for the next round of fixtures, but return to action on Saturday, 20 May when they face Peamount United in a top-of-the-table clash at Greenogue.