League Report: Shelbourne 2-1 Athlone Town

Shelbourne got their push for promotion back on track on Friday evening with a 2-1 home win over Athlone Town in the SSE Airtricity League First Divison.

The early kick off at Tolka Park didn’t seem to disturb their focus as first half goals from James English and Aidan Collins gave the Reds a much needed three points.

Despite Daniel Purdy leveling for Athlone with a beautifully struck goal after Aidan Collins had given Shelbourne the lead, it was the in form English who snatched the three points just before the first half came to a close.

Jack Brady came in to replace Greg Murray in goal for Shelbourne and it was Brady who made the first save of the game when a long ball over the top wasn’t dealt with by Dylan Kavanagh and Marco Chindea forced a  save from the Shels net-minder.

Shels responded with a couple of quick fire chances after  as Adam O’Connor put James English through but after a tussle with Evan Moran in the Athlone goal it was left to Gavin Boyne who fired over the bar from 20 yards.

However, it wasn’t long before Shels had the lead. After a wonderfully swung in corner to the back post from Kavanagh, Jamie Doyle headed down superbly for Aidan Collins to react first and poke home from eight yards in the 11th minute.

Jamie Doyle’s presence in the game was growing more and more and on the 19thminute mark, he managed to get past Athlone’s Calvin Douglas to sweep in a low cross which was fumbled by Moran, James English tried to take advantage but Moran just about managed to get control of the ball.

Shels had the ball in the net once again as English broke through and seen a deflected shot bounce in over Moran, only to be judged by the referee to have fouled Jack Tuite on the way through.

A warning sign of things to come from Athlone came on the half hour mark with a quick break from a Shelbourne corner. After some neat work down the left the ball ended up with Alan O’Sullivan having a great chance from the edge of the box that he could only pull wide.

Athlone did manage to find an equaliser two minutes later though when Daniel Purdy curled in a great effort over Brady from 23 yards out. The chance had looked to have gone when Aidan Collins made a superb last-stitch block on Alan O’Sullivan when he seemed to be in on goal, but the ball broke to Purdy who did the rest.

It was a setback for Shelbourne against the run of play but they weren’t level for long. Jamie Doyle was once again weaving in and out of Athlone players down the left wing as he managed to swing in another low cross into the six-yard box. This time English managed to get on the end of it and Shels were back in front after 38 minutes.

Doyle once again put Calvin Douglas to the test as he flew past him just before the half time whistle and should have put the game beyond doubt but his curled effort skimmed the post.

Athlone tried to get back into it straight from the restart but former Shelbourne man David Cassidy fired over as he stretched to get onto a cross from the left.

Dylan Kavanagh’s influence on the game was growing by the minute. His set piece deliveries were flawless and 53 minutes in he put through James English down the left but English could only fire his shot straight at Moran.

A brief couple of moments of controversy arrived on 55 minutes as a late challenge from Gavin Boyne gave rise to dissent from Emeka Onwubiko resulting in both players being booked.

Following this, Shels broke forward and after a high ball into the box English went down after a heavy challenge from Simon Dixon but the referee played on.

As the game progressed Athlone began to chase the game bringing on Adam Kelly and Conor Barry.

 After 75 minutes a great chance fell to Onwubiko as he attempted a scissor kick from a corner but Jamie Doyle was there to make a vital interception with his face.

Another guilt edged opportunity went begging for Athlone on 80 minutes as O’Sullivan wasted a clear header in the box brining a fantastic save from Brady. Athlone tried everything they could as they pushed men forward going into injury time but Shels held out for a massive three points as they stay in touch with the play-off spots.

Shelbourne: Jack Brady; Adam O’Connor, Conor Keeley, Aidan Collins (Robert O’Reilly 85’), Dylan Kavanagh; Robert Duggan, Daire Doyle, Gavin Boyne, Carl Walshe (Lorcan Shannon 57’), Jamie Doyle; James English.

Subs not used: Greg Murray, Ryan Robinson, Dylan Grimes, Mark Sandford, James Brown.

Yellow Cards: Gavin Boyne (55), Dylan Kavanagh (89).

Athlone Town: Evan Moran; Calvin Douglas (Adam Kelly 77’), Ian Fletcher, Simon Dixon, Jack Tuite; Val Feeney (Conor Barry 63’), Marco Chindea, David Cassidy, Alan O’Sullivan, Daniel Purdy; Emeka Onwubiko.

Subs not used: Ryan Coulter, Ross Purdy, Kevin Farragher, Daniel Molloy, James Daly.

Yellow Cards: Emeka Onwubiko (56), Marco Chindea (90+1).

Referee: Andrew Mullally.

Attendance: 447.

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Jamie Doyle (Shelbourne).

You can see pictures from Eoin Smith and Daniel Rico from the game here.