Athlone Town -v- Mervue United

ATHLONE TOWN

The Rod squad return to action on Friday night with a chance to reel back in Longford Town. Roddy Collins’s side are currently in second on the back of two massive wins just before the break and they will be looking to carry on from where they left off.
 

The Town beat Finn Harps 3-2 away from home before securing a massive three points when they beat league leaders Longford Town at home.
 

The Athlone manager has said that he plans to bring in four players and one would imagine this is also a motivational tactic for his side, forcing them to up their game rather than be replaced.
 

Roddy will pick from a full squad on Friday night as he has no injuries or suspensions to deal with.
 

Matches this season between the sides have proved to be very tight affairs with the corresponding tie in Series 1 ending scoreless while the Series 2 game ended 2-2 with Athlone only securing a point late on thanks to a last minute penalty awarded after Phillip Gorman was taken down in the area.

 

MERVUE UNITED

The Galway side were undoubtedly the surprise package of the First Division, threating to take a promotion spot but recently a downturn in results has seen Johnny Glynn’s side slip down the table. A trip to Athlone after a two week break could revive the Galwegians flagging promotion hopes.

A 2-0 defeat against Wexford Youth’s before the break will be something that Mervue will want to put behind them. They currently lie in fifth, but a win would put them level on points with Athlone, such is the density of the First Division.

Speaking ahead of the game Mervue manager Johnny Glynn said “The last time we played Athlone we were denied the win after the referee made a huge mistake in awarding them an injury time penalty which the video evidence proved. We have played them twice and drew both times and they are a decent side who are on a good run of form at the moment. It will be another big challenge for us but one the lads are looking forward too, especially after the break.”

Glynn will have to plan without defender Stephen Walsh who is suspended for the game following his dismissal in Wexford but otherwise he has a full squad to choose from for the game.

 

Referee: Ray Matthews

 

MATCH STATS

Since 2009 when Mervue first entered the league the teams have played 15 times in all competitions with the games producing 33 goals in total averaging at just over 2 goals per game.  

In these 15 games there have only been two draws with both happening this season.

BETTING

Athlone Town 21/20, Draw 11/5, Mervue United 23/10.

PREDICTION

2-0 Athlone.

Athlone Town

Injured: None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Mervue United

Injured:  None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: Stephen Walsh