League Preview: Athlone Town -v- Shelbourne

ATHLONE TOWN

Athlone Town entertain Shelbourne at Lissywollen on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

The Town will be hoping to get their season back on track following back to back defeats at the hands of Cabinteely (2-1-) in last week’s opening league game and 2-1 at the hands of Wexford Youths in the Leinster Senior Cup last Monday.

Despite the early season setbacks the Town are feeling positive that they can get something from this crucial game.

The man of the match performances by talisman Val Feeney on loan from Limerick FC leave the midlands side feeling rather optimistic of getting a decent result against the Dublin side.

SHELBOURNE

Shelbourne will make the tough trip to the midlands in search of their first points of the season after going down 0-1 at home to Cobh Ramblers in last week’s opening encounter.

Shels go into this encounter in buoyant mood despite the early season setback with some encouraging displays from Kevin Doherty’s fledgling squad.

Shels will go into this game knowing that they need to get something out of it to kickstart their season and give them realistic hopes of challenging for promotion to the Premier Division.

Referee: Eoghan O’Shea

MATCH STATS

There was little to separate both sides last season with 2 wins a piece in the head to head league games. Expect there to be goals at Lissywollen with a total of 16 produced in last season’s 4 matches.

Over the last 27 games between 1994 and 2015 only six have been stalemates while just three games have finished 0-0. Shelbourne have been dominant throughout this period with 17 wins to Athlone Town’s 4.

Shels have scored a total of 53 goals with the Town bagging 26 resulting in an average of three goals per game.

BETTING

Athlone Town 2/1 Draw 23/10 Shelbourne 6/5

PREDICTION

Athlone Town 1-2 Shelbourne

Athlone Town

Injured: Simon Dixon (quad).

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Shelbourne

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.