Report: Athlone Town 0-1 Shelbourne

Shelbourne moved back to the top of the table on Sunday afternoon following a narrow win over Athlone Town. Dermot Lennons side will be disappointed they didn't get something from a game that they didn't deserve to loose. In front of just less than six hundred spectators, Mark Rutherford scored the games only goal just after the half hour mark.

Although the sun was shining, there was a strong wind at Lissywollen. Shels played with its assistance in the first half. Dermot Keely made two changes to the side that defeated Monaghan. Alan Murphy came back into the side at right back and Mark O'Brien took the place of Dave McGill in midfield. Ian Rossitor was unavailable for the home side so Robbie Hamm filled in at right back.

The first chance of the game went the way of the leagues top scorer. Murphy got forward on the right and sent a dangerous cross into the box. Anthony Flood rose well but was unable to get the necessary power or direction on his header. Athlone then very nearly took the lead when they were awarded a free kick in the centre circle. Midfielder Davy Byrne floated a long straight ball into the box and centre back Jim Sheridan was unlucky when his clever header ended up just inches wide of Dean Delaneys upright.

Midway through the half Shelbourne should have been awarded a spot kick. Flood got between Athlones two centre backs and while waiting for the ball to drop, Nigel Keady clearly pulled him back. Referee G Kelly was reasonably well positioned but waived away all protests.

Dave O'Dowd was lively upfront for Athlone and he came close to opening the scoring with a twenty five yard right footed shot. Delaney was a couple of yards off his line and at one point it looked as if he was about to be embarrassed - however O'Dowds shot had too much power behind it and ended up a yard or two over the top. Not long after that Colm Jinks and O'Dowd linked up well to provide Carmine Russo with a shooting chance. Russo took too long to decide what the best course of action was and Robbie Hedderman was able to close him down and then clear the danger.

O'Brien was impressive in midfield and just before the half hour mark he found Flood on the edge of the box with his back to goal. The former Dundalk player turned smartly but his shot was easily saved by Ciaran Kelly. Mark Rutherford then dispossessed Russo but just as it looked like Shels might be in, Athlones left back Phillip Reilly did well to move across and clear the danger.

After a period of five or so minutes of pressure Shels took the lead. James Chambers,operating on the right wing, curled in a teasing left footed cross. Flood looked to get on the end of it and nearly got a touch, however it appeared as if he was being held back. Full back Hamm, aware that Rutherford was coming in behind him, attempted to knock it out for a corner, but his hooked clearance came back off the upright and Rutherford smashed the ball first time into the net.

Niall Scullion was introduced at half time for the home side in place of Russo. Athlone moved to a more orthodox 4-4-2 formation, with Jinks now nominally operating on the left hand side of midfield. Ian Coffey was pushed upfront alongside O'Dowd. O'Brien and Flood continued to link up well for Shels. Five minutes into the second half Flood picked out O'Brien with a delightful diagonal cross field pass - but O'Brien had marginally strayed into an offside position.

Athlone then hit the woodwork. Coffey whipped in a corner from the right hand side and Sheridan was unlucky to see his header come back of the crossbar. Shels then broke away quickly and Flood should have scored their second when he was put through one on one with the keeper. Kelly narrowed the angles well and Flood shot over.

Athlone continued to pin Shels back and forced a serious of corners. The Shels defence looked uncomfortable underneath Coffeys corners. Delaney unconvincingly flapped at one at the far post and Sheridan then saw his header cleared off the line. Delaney was then nearly embarrassed again when the ball bounced over him after he left his line.

For all of Athlones pressure in the second half they failed to create more than two or three decent chances. The Shelbourne players looked tired from the hour mark onwards and took every available opportunity to run the clock down. Surprisingly, Keely decided against making any substitutions.

Athlone Town: Ciaran Kelly; Robbie Hamm, Jim Sheridan, Nigel Keady, Philip Reilly; Colm Jinks, Carmine Russo (Niall Scullion 46), Davy Byrne, David O'Dowd (Noel McGee 69), Anthony Hayes (Craig Tone 83), Ian Coffey.
Subs not used: Anthony Jinks, Des Hope.

Shelbourne: Dean Delany; Alan Murphy, Alan Keely, Damien Brennan, Robbie Hedderman; Mark O'Brien, Greg O'Halloran, James Chambers, Mark Rutherford; Anto Flood, David Freeman.
Subs not used: John McGuinness, Alan Mulcahy, Dean Lawrence, Keith Dunne, Max Cream.

Referee: Graham Kelly.

Attendance: 531