Gradi Lomboto hits the winner again as Finn Harps defeat Treaty United

Finn Harps made it back-to-back wins in the League of Ireland First Division as Gradi Lomboto hit the only goal of the game at the Markets Field.

The first half was a cagey affair with both defences coming out on top in the opening 45, albeit the Donegal men were much the busier in that regard. Treaty dominated possession but the Shannonsiders were unable to find the back of Corey Sheridan's net but they came close on a number of occasions.

And Joel Bradley Walsh's brilliant outside of the boot pass allowed Lomboto to get in behind the Treaty defence with 15 minutes to go, cutting in on his left and rifling the ball into the near corner for the only goal of the game.

Joe Hanson struck the side netting in the fourth minute after a long ball over the top caused the Finn Harps back-line serious trouble, a theme that would continue for much of the opening half. 

Treaty midfielder Lee J Lynch was his usual busy self in the middle of the park, looking to make things happen for Tommy Barrett's side. 

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Lynch and centre-back Robbie Lynch were using the breeze at their backs to hit long balls over the top of Harps' defence time and again, a strategy that almost proved successful on a number of occasions. 

Karl O'Sullivan picked out Joe Hanson mid-way through the half with a ball to the back post, but the striker was unable to convert. 

Treaty continued to dominate possession for the remainder of the half but were almost caught lacking just shy of half time when a Harps' goalmouth scramble had to be desperately cleared. 

Treaty were able to manufacture another chance before the break, Lee J Lynch picked out the onrushing Evan O'Connor with a delightful ball over the top but in continuing with the theme of Treaty's first-half, O'Connor was unable to convert.

The second half continued in a similar fashion to the first, Treaty dominating possession and finding success from balls over the top. 

The Limerick side felt they were harshly done by on the hour mark when Lee Devitt looked to be nudged over just outside the box as he chased a looping ball. Minutes later he stung the hands of Harps' shot-stopper Corey Sheridan with a long-range effort. 

Devitt started to come into the game as the half wore on. The in-form attacking midfielder came close again a few minutes later, after wriggling away from the Harps' defence with a fine piece of skill, his curling shot went just wide of the post. 

The Donegal side had some chances of their own but nothing of note to trouble Corey Chambers in net until the 75th minute, when the Markets Field was stunned into silence. 

Gradi Lomboto finished a swift Harps' counter-attack, the winger staying composed despite the pressure from Mark Walsh, to finish smartly into the back of Chambers' net.

Harps quickly adopted a back-five to try and see out the win and keep Treaty at bay. The Limerick side came close again in the 83rd minute, a Karl O'Sullivan free-kick found the head of Joe Hanson, whose effort was tapped over the bar by Corey Sheridan, who was kept busy. 

Treaty were unable to find an equaliser late on despite continuing to dominate possession with the Harps' defence standing firm. Harps host Longford Town next Friday in Finn Park.

Treaty United: Corey Chambers; Evan O'Connor (Valerii Dolia, 90'), Robbie Lynch, Mark Walsh (c), Ben Lynch, Steven Healy (Colin Conroy, 72'), Connor Wilson (Trpimir Vrljicak, 72'), Karl O'Sullivan (Roy Lawlor, 84'), Lee J Lynch, Lee Devitt, Joe Hanson (Niko Kozlowski, 84')

Finn Harps: Corey Sheridan; Kevin Jordan, Conor Tourish, Joel Bradley-Walsh, Max Hutchison, Tony McNamee (c), Gavin McAteer, Joel Thompson, Gavin Gilmore, Gradi Lomboto, William Oduwa

Referee: Alan Patchell