League Report: Athlone Town 3 - 3 Waterford United

Athlone Town recovered from conceding three unanswered goals inside the first 35 minutes to snatch a second consecutive draw, against Waterford United at The Athlone Town Stadium.

The visitors who were searching for a third consecutive league win opened the scoring after just eight minutes when Anthony McAlavey latched onto a through ball from James O’Brien before finishing past Evan Moran.

Waterford doubled their advantage just six minutes later when Darren Murphy’s low free-kick after Eoin Rhodes was fouled 25 yards from goal sailed under the body of Moran.

With less than ten minutes remaining in the opening period, McAlavey grabbed his second of the game, however, the hosts would hit back just before the break when David Cassidy fired home after the Waterford defence failed to clear a long ball.

Just two minutes later, Waterford were reduced to ten men when  Rhodes received his marching orders from referee Mark Lynch for an off the ball altercation.

With 15 minutes remaining Athlone narrowed the deficit to a single goal when half-time substitute Conor Barry netted for the Midlanders.

Just three minutes later, the comeback was complete for Alan Matthews' side when skipper Daniel Purdy scored his first goal of the season to sicken the travelling party.

After tonight’s draw Athlone Town will be hoping they can secure their first victory of the season on Monday night when they host Shelbourne  in a re-arranged game after a floodlight failure saw the original fixture postponed late last month.

Waterford will also return to action on Monday when they welcome Cobh Ramblers to the RSC after their original game was also postponed due to an unplayable pitch.

Athlone Town: Evan Moran; Ian Fletcher, Kevin Farragher, Calvin Douglas (Conor Barry HT), Jack Tuite; Val Feeney, Marco Chindea, David Cassidy; Alan O’Sullivan, Emeka Onwubiko (Cian O’Sullivan 72), Daniel Purdy.

Subs Not Used: Adam Kelly, Conor Dunne, Simon Dixon, Sean Nolan, Ross Purdy.

Yellow Cards: Feeney (57),  Farragher (70).

Red Cards: None.

Waterford United: Corey Chambers (Matthew Sheehan 76) Colum Nugent, Sean Byrne, Ian Sinnott; David O’Leary,  James O’Brien, Darren Murphy (Dean Broaders HT), Dylan McGuire (Shane Mackey 81), Robbie Buckley; Eoin Rhodes, Anthony McAlavey.

Subs Not Used: Dean Reidy, James Dermody.

Booked:  Byrne (42), Buckley (57).

Red Cards: Eoin Rhodes (40).

Referee: Mark Lynch.

Attendance: 212.

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Anthony McAlavey (Waterford United).