League Report: Cobh Ramblers 2 - 2 Athlone Town

Cobh Ramblers and Athlone Town played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in glorious sunshine on Saturday evening in St. Colman’s Park. Cobh came into this tie on the back of a 2-1 away to Waterford United, while the visitors Athlone came into this game having lost 3-1 at home to Shelbourne.

This was a fast and competitive game from the outset but neither side could open the scoring in the first half. The second half, however, was a different story with four goals spread between the two teams. First up Val Feeney converted a David Cassidy corner for Athlone on 50 minutes with Emeka Onwubiko doubling the lead a minute later.

Yet Cobh weren’t going to give up without a fight and Shane O’Connor pulled a goal back, with a Rob Lehane penalty ensuring both side got a point out of this game.

Athlone Town had the first chance of the match on seven minutes when a Cassidy corner fell to Kevin Farragher but the centre half’s goal-bound effort was blocked with the aid of Graham McCarthy’s face.

But the home side came more into the game after Athlone’s early attack with ex-Cork City forward seeing his shot tipped over by Evan Moran for a corner.

They came even closer to opening the scoring on 18 minutes when Marco Gustavsson, a livewire up front, laid the ball off to Lehane but he saw his shot skim the top of the crossbar with Evan Moran rooted to the spot.

Ian Mylod was next to try his luck on 25 minutes but his shot from 30 yards shaved the post and went wide as Ramblers looked the more likely to open the scoring.

Athlone Town were always dangerous on the break with Cassidy and Feeney at the centre of everything good that went Athlone’s way.  Marco Chindea turned his man on 25 minutes before crossing to Cassidy who laid the ball off to Feeney but the former Limerick man fired wide.

The game was then delayed for two minutes owing to a clash of heads between Andy O’Connell and Alan O’Sullivan, with the latter wearing a big bandage for the remainder of the game.

The Rams had two chances in quick succession to take the lead on the verge of half time. Firstly Gustavsson saw his shot blocked following Lehane’s pass with the rebound falling to Galvin but Calvin Douglas blocked his shot.

The second half couldn’t have started any better for the away side as they scored two in two minutes first through Feeney from Cassidy’s corner from close range. Ramblers had barely time to take stock, when a minute later a ball from Cassidy over the top split the Ramblers defence and Onwubiko fired past Paul Hunt.

Ramblers were shell shocked by the concession of the goals and they lost their way for the next 20 minutes as they failed to mount any sort of attacking moves. This was in no small part due to the dominance of the Athlone Town midfield pairing of Cassidy and Feeney.

But like in many of the home games so far this season, Cobh weren’t going to roll over in their home patch without a fight. The catalyst for the change was the introduction of Jason Abbott who won a mountain of ball on his introduction to the game.

The home side pulled a goal back when O’Connor picked up the ball on the edge of the box, dribbled through the defence before firing a curling effort past a mass of bodies into the bottom left corner.

Their tails were up now and the ball was staying in the Athlone half and they got the equaliser six mintues from time when Cory Galvin’s cross was handled by Jack Tuite. Up stepped Lehane to fire home, giving the home side everything to play for in the final minutes.

Stephen Christopher had the best chance for Cobh the final moments of the game but his shot went over, as both sides had to be content with the draw.

The search for Cobh’s first home win of the season continues as they will prepare to face Shelbourne in the same venue next Saturday, while Athlone travel to Tallaght to take on Shamrock Rovers In the EA Sports Cup on Tuesday night.

Cobh Ramblers: Paul Hunt; Charlie Fleming, Andy O’Connell (Jason Abbott 73), Chris McCarthy, Ian Mylod; Rob Lehane, Shane O’Connor, Graham McCarthy, Cory Galvin; Stephen Christopher; Marcus Gustavsson.

Subs not used: Evan Galvin, Eoin McGreevy, David Curran.

Yellow Card: Shane O’Connor (57).

Athlone Town: Evan Moran; Calvin Douglas, Jack Tuite, Kevin Farragher, Ian Fletcher; Marco Chindea, Val Feeney, Adam Kelly, Emeka Onwubiko (Conor Barry 84); David Cassidy; Alan O’Sullivan.

Subs not used: Sean Nolan, Ross Purdy, Cian O’Sullivan, Conor Dunne, James Daly, Daniel Molloy.

Yellow Cards: Calvin Douglas (49), Val Feeney (87).

Referee: Adriano Reale.

Attendance: 332.

Extratime.ie Man of the match: Val Feeney (Athlone Town).

You can view Steve Alfred's photos from the game here.