Athlone dent title hopes of high flying blues

Waterford Utd 0 Athlone Town 0 A draw away from home against high flying Waterford United can be considered a good result but Athlone Town still had much to ponder upon as they made the long journey home from the Regional Sports Centre last Friday night. In a game of few clear cut chances the Town was comfortably holding United when the home side were reduced to ten men with Willie John Kiely seeing red after 80 minutes. However, Athlone failed to take advantage of their numerical superiority and their slim hopes of making the play-offs have all but vanished with a sharing of the spoils when a win would have revived their challenge. On one of the hottest days of the year, the action on the pitch did its best to lower the temperature as an opening half of few clear cut chances saw neither goalkeeper tested during a dull 45 minutes. Athlone had lots of possession but their finishing was poor when the chances fell their way. For a side looking for a tenth victory in eleven games, United were a major disappointment to their supporters with the first home chance arriving after 16 minutes when Kiely's low effort from outside the penalty area was saved by Pat Jennings. Athlone had their first chance soon after when Sean Skelly's cross from the right was intercepted by home keeper Packie Holden before Mark McGoldrick could pounce. Midway through the half, influential midfielder Peter White was tackled as he prepared to shoot with Athlone proving more than a match for third placed United as the half progressed. On 28 minutes, Mark Walsh had a shot saved but then a wayward throw out to Paul Carey from the keeper handed McGoldrick the chance to open the scoring, but his weak effort was easily gathered by a relieved Holden. Ten minutes from the break McGoldrick played a neat one two with Skelly but once more the finishing was poor as Holden again comfortably saved the former Longford man's effort. Action in a poor first half ended when White's snapshot flew wide and it was little wonder then that home supporters were heard to complain after enduring a dreadful three quarters of an hour of virtual inactivity. With little to catch the attention taking place on the pitch, Michael Conlan's attempts at reaching the boxing final in the Olympics at least provided some action for the press box personnel to savour but, thankfully, the second half was an improvement. Athlone brought on Noel McGee at the break but hopes of a more positive approach from the visitors were dashed as the Towns top scorer merely took McGoldrick's place as sole striker. McGee almost had a dream introduction when he connected with a cross from the left by Shane Dunne, but his diving header was straight at the keeper who made the save. At the other end another headed effort should have broken the deadlock but somehow White headed over from close range, after Gary Dempsey's free kick had picked out the unmarked number eight inside the penalty area. It took almost an hour of play for the first corner kick to be earned and Waterford almost took full advantage of the situation with the quickly taken corner seeing Carey deliver the ball into the box but Sean Maguire headed wide from a good position. Mark Sherlock was then introduced ,replacing Skelly, but strangely took up a position on the right of midfield, thereby leaving McGee still isolated up front. Athlone forced their first corner after 63 minutes when Sherlock's right wing cross was put behind and a second corner followed on 70 minutes. The advantage looked to swing the Towns way with 11 minutes remaining when Kiely was shown the red card for a two footed lunge on McGoldrick just inside the Athlone half. Instead of proving to be a setback, however, the decision seemed to spur on the home side with Athlone fortunate to end the game still on level terms. In the closing stages it was not obvious who had the extra man as United piled forward in search of the winner and Athlone defended in depth. Craig Burns headed over a Paul Phelan corner kick with the Athlone goal then living a charmed life with four minutes remaining as White again headed off target following a cross from substitute Aidan McGrath. On the stroke of full-time, Maguire almost fashioned an amazing winner but following a mazy run into the penalty area his shot was saved at his near post by Jennings. In the final minute of stoppage time a quick counter attack from Athlone might have yielded a surprise dividend but the visiting response was less than convincing against a stretched United defence. McGoldrick was ruled offside when McGee passed forward and the final whistle sounded immediately afterwards, to thankfully bring an end to a poor contest with Athlone probably happier with the share of the spoils than the home side. Waterford United: Packie Holden, Paul Carey, Dylan Mernagh, Gary Dempsey, Seamus Long, Craig Burns, Stephen Mulcahy (Aidan McGrath, 69 mins), Peter White, Willie John Kiely, Sean Maguire, Paul Phelan. Athlone Town: Pat Jennings, Damien Rushe, Kevin Williamson, Joe Woods, Brian McCarthy, Mark Walsh, Sean Skelly (Mark Sherlock, 61 mins), Barry O'Mahony, Brian Gill (Noel McGee, h/t), Shane Dunne, Mark McGoldrick. Referee: Kevin O'Regan (Kerry)