Waterord make play-off progress after Treaty thriller

Waterford needed two second half goals from Wassim Aouachria and Phoenix Patterson to salvage a 3-3 draw with Treaty United and progress 7-4 on aggregate in the promotion semi-finals at the RSC on Saturday evening.

After the Blues won 4-1 at the Market Fields on Wednesday, Tommy Barret's team went 3-1 up at half-time and they were one goal away from pulling off a comeback that seemed unthinkable before kick-off.

Two scored penalties by Marc Ludden and a close range finish from Lee Devitt meant that the Shannonsiders were dreaming of the impossible at the interval.

The goals are just a snapshot of a crazy game that began with Success Edogun sprinting forward and forcing a low save from Paul Martin at the far post.

The Shannonsiders were relentless and a foul on Ludden by Tunmise Sobowale resulted in Paul Norton pointing to the spot.

The ball went in off the inside of the post and Treaty made it 4-2 on aggregate in the ninth minute.

A mistake from Jack Lynch after a Ludden free-kick led to Shane Griffin snatching the ball for Waterford. The Blues broke down through Patterson and in a two on two situation, he squared to Aouachria and he laid it off for Tunmise Sobowale, who fired into the top corner.

Treaty responded to the set-back by powering numbers into the Waterford half and a shot from Jack Lynch inside the area was blocked on the line by Sobowale.

The Shannonsiders stayed up the pitch and they got a second penalty after referee Paul Norton ruled that Richard Taylor brought down Edogun inside the area.

Ludden put this straight down the centre and Treaty made it 5-3 on aggregate with 26 minutes played in the first half.

Waterford tried passing the ball around to control the tempo, but Treaty stole it back and a cross from Ludden