Athlone Town -v- Longford Town
Credit:
ATHLONE TOWN
Athlone Town could go into the mid season break in second place if they can overcome their midlands rivals Longford Town in the third meeting of the sides this season.
The teams have met firstly in the EA Sports Cup where Roddy Collins put out a very young and experimental squad that was defeated 2-0, but it was a tighter contest in Series One of the league when it finished 2-1 at the City Calling Stadium back in April.
Last week’s victory over Finn Harps went some way to alleviating the disappointment of the Athlone’s FAI Cup exit at the hands of Bluebell United and Collins will hope that his side can find some consistency in their performances and results to make a challenge for promotion in the second half of the season.
Top scorer, Ian Sweeney, will return to the squad after sitting out the Harps game with ankle ligament damage while Garvan Coughlan finishes up his current loan spell (from Limerick FC) after this weekends game.
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LONGFORD TOWN
Its been a fruitful first half of the season for Longford Town as last weekend’s 3-1 win over Wexford Youths saw them pull nine points clear at the summit of the First Division and put them firmly in the driving seat for the automatic promotion spot.
Tony Cousins will, however, be mindful of the fact that his side entered last season’s break as leaders only to be overhauled by Limerick and eventually suffer play-off defeat to Waterford United as their championship challenge floundered in the second half of the campaign.
Preparations for the trip to Lissywoolen will not have been helped by the news that Colm James has been banned from all football related activities for eighteen months after he was found guilty of breaching FAI rules concerning match integrity.
The manager will also have to plan without midfielder William McDonagh because of suspension and striker Etanda Nkololo who is injured.
Referee: Adrian Reale.
MATCH STATS
Since 2007 the teams have played 23 times in all competitions with the games producing 50 goals in total averaging just over 2 goals per game.
Longford are the leagues top scorer’s having hit the net 30 times this season while Athlone have the meanest defence in the division with only fourteen goals conceded this term.
You have to go back to September 17th in the 2011 season for Athlone’s last victory over Longford, and further back to April 2010 for the last time they overcame their local rivals at home.
BETTING
Athlone Town 5/2; Draw 11/5 ; Longford Town evens.
PREDICTION
Athlone Town 1-1 Longford Town.
Athlone Town
Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Longford Town
Injured: Etanda Nkololo
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: William McDonagh.
