Waterford United 1- 1 Athlone Town

Athlone Town moved to the top of the First Division table after a 1-1 draw with Waterford United at the RSC on Friday night.

Roddy Collins’ men moved joint top with Longford Town but lead on goal difference, while Waterford United sit five points behind, but who have their existence threatened by a winding-up petition in the High Court on Monday.

Conor Meade’s first goal for Waterford United gave them a first half lead, but Mark Hughes’ second half goal was enough to share the points.

Paddy Barrett struck the first chance of the game after just three minutes, but his free kick was straight into the arms of Athlone Town keeper Paul Skinner. 

Skinner was in action again on the quarter hour as Marco Chindea fired at goal from the right but Skinner grasped the ball at the second attempt.

Philly Gorman has Athlone’s first chance of the match but after making space on the edge of the area he couldn’t get his strike on target as it drifted just wide.

The first proper chance arrived after 18 and it was youngster Marco Chindea who almost broke the deadlock. Philip Drohan did well down the left and cut inside to feed the ball through to Chindea, but he couldn’t get enough on his shot and Paul Skinner saved well. 

As the future of Waterford United remains unclear, Blues fans stood together after a quarter hour, and chanted “"Stand up if you love the Blues", with a court date on Monday set to decide the future of the club.

On the pitch, Kevin O’Connor’s shot deflected off Paul Quilty and almost wrong footed Skinner but the ball dropped just wide of the target.

Conor Meade had a chance minutes later but he couldn’t get enough on his header from Drohan’s cross. Marco Chindea was involved on the half hour and he crossed, after good build up play by Conor Meade, for Paul Quilty but he couldn’t get proper contact. 

The Blues’ dominance paid off after 34 minutes as Conor Meade scored his first goal for the club.

Conor Whittle fired in a superb cross from the right wing that found Conor Meade in the penalty area and he power his header into the top corner past the five of Skinner to give the Blues a deserved half time lead.

Roddy Collins’ half-time Athlone Town team talk seemed to work as his side grew in confidence in the second half. Mark Hughes and Barry Clancy began to get more into the game and started to trouble the Blues defence. 

Hughes found Gorman on the edge of the area and he made space for a powerful strike that whistled just wide of the post.

Athlone made their second half ascendancy count they grabbed the equaliser. Ian Sweeney did well in the centre before finding Mark Hughes inside the penalty area and he brilliantly fired the ball low past the dive of Sanders.

The visitors continued to press with Sweeney and Clancy getting more and more influential. 

Conor Meade could have put the Blues back in front but he couldn’t make the most of a mixup in the Athlone defence. 

Despite the Athlone Town pressure, Ben Ryan came closest to grabbing the winning goal for the home team as he crashed a free kick off Skinner’s crossbar. Marco Chindea then danced his way around the Athlone defence, before playing a one-two with Conor Meade, but his strike went high over the crossbar. 

Athlone Town had a late chance to get a valuable winner. Ian Sweeney showed his pace as raced around Seamus Long down the left and crossed for Gorman, but the striker couldn’t get to the inviting cross.

Chip Sanders was called into action to earn a point for his side in the final minutes. Gorman had time to turn and fire powerfully toward goal but the American produced a superb save to deny the striker.

Waterford United: Chip Sanders; Conor Whittle, Gavin Kavanagh, Seamus Long, John Frost; Marco Chindea, Kevin O'Connor (Ben Ryan 65’), Paddy Barrett (Peter Higgins 60’), Philip Drohan; Conor Meade, Paul Quilty.
Subs not used: Aidan McGrath, Craig Hyland, David Breen, Gavin O’Donovan, Francis Rockett.

Bookings: Kevin O’Connor (15)

Athlone Town: Paul Skinner; Roddy Collins Jnr, Conor McMahon, Aidan Collins, Neil Harney; James O'Brien, Mark Hughes, Eoin McCormack, Barry Clancy; Philly Gorman, Ian Sweeney.
Subs not used: Craig Sexton, Luke McCarthy, Niall Lanigan, Garbhan Coughlan, David Brookes.

Bookings: James O’Brien (44), Roddy Collins Jnr (67)

Referee: Adriano Reale.

Attendance: 671

Extratime Man of the Match: Barry Clancy (Athlone Town).