Athlone Town 4 - 1 Mervue United

Athlone Town recorded their biggest win of the campaign and moved above Mervue Utd into seventh place with two goals in either half at Lissywoollen on Saturday night. The home win also completed a treble of victories this season over the visitors.

They got off to the perfect start after just five minutes opening the scoring as Mervue conceded the first of some poor goals on the night. Davy Ryan played a lovely ball through the centre of the visitors defence for Kevin Williamson to run onto and he diverted the ball past the advancing Ger Hanley but with the ball going the wrong side of the post Jason Hughes arrived at the back post to slot into an empty net.

Stephen Relihan shot straight at Hanley from the edge of the box following a good run by Ryan which set him up on 20 minutes. Mervue had their first shot on target four minutes later as David O’Brien latched onto a stray Athlone pass to hit a low drive which Michael Schlingermann gathered at the second attempt. Jason Molloy tested Schlingermann again thirty seconds later cutting in from the left and striking another low effort which the home keeper held at his near post.

The home side doubled their lead on 29 minutes through a goal created by bad Mervue play. John Mountney knocked a ball back to Marc Ludden who left his header back to keeper Hanley short and Hughes nipped in to poke the ball over the advancing keeper with the ball hitting the inside of the far post and crossing the line despite Mike Elwood’s effort to clear on the goal-line.

Mervue almost pulled a goal back two minutes before the break when O’Brien’s deep cross from the right found Molloy unmarked at the back post but once again Schlingermann was well position to collect. Just after the break Pat Hoban had an effort blocked in the six yard box following a Molloy delivery from a corner with big claims for a hand ball waved away by referee Adriano Reale.

Mountney got on the end of a Dave Goldbey pull back on 54 minutes but his strike flew past the far post as the visitors has started the second half with a bit more urgency. But Mike Kerley’s side added a third goal just five minutes later as sub Niall Boland punished more poor Mervue defending as once again they handed the home side a soft goal.

Joe Woods raced forward and played a ball into the box for Ryan but Hanley looked to have it covered only to lose control of the ball and Ryan pulled the loose ball back to Boland who hit a low strike into the bottom corner for 3-0. Boland had only come on four minutes earlier for his Airtricity League debut and made an instant impact.

The night got better for Athlone with fifteen minutes remaining as Mark Sherlock pick up a Ryan through ball to blast number four past Hanley. Mervue sub Peter Dravins should have reduced that deficit with ten minutes left but Schlingermann brilliantly pushed his close range effort away for a corner.

Mervue did get a consolation goal three minutes later as John Mountney scored his first goal for the club with an excellent strike from 25 yards which gave Schlingermann no chance for the goal of the game.

Athlone Town: Michael Schlingermann, Damien Rushe (Niall Boland ’55), Jamie Carr, Mark Walshe, Tommy Barrett (Joe Woods ’46); Roy King, Davy Ryan, Jason Hughes (Gary Higgins ‘80), Kevin Williamson, Stephen Relihan; Mark Sherlock.

Subs Not Used: Declan Fallon, Kevin Dunne, Scott Gaynor (GK).

Bookings: None

Mervue Utd : Ger Hanley, Marc Ludden (Kenny Farrell ’32), James Casserley , Mike Elwood (Etanda Nkololo ‘63), Martin Conneely, Dave O’Brien, Noel Varley, Jason Molloy, John Mountney, Pat Hoban, David Goldbey (Peter Dravins ‘78)

Subs not used: Barry McEntee, Dan Cunningham, Alex Lee, Brian O’Donoghue (GK)

Booked : Mike Elwood ‘62, James Casserley ’68.

Attendance: 150 (aprox)

Referee: Adriano Reale (Kildare)

Extratime.ie Man of the Match – Davy Ryan (Athlone) Good all round display in midfield.