Athlone Town 0 - 6 Sunderland

Athlone Towns stadium in Lissywollen was packed to capacity for the first time ever on Thursday night, as the sporting public of the midlands turned out in large numbers for the visit of Sunderland.

Roy Keane named a strong starting eleven. Irish Internationals Liam Miller and Anthony Stokes were included, while Daryl Murphy was named among the substitutes. New signings from Tottenham Pascal Chimbonda and Steed Malbranque also featured. English International Kieran Richardson lined up in midfield. Athlones line up was quite possibly as it would have been for a regular league game. Robbie Hamm and Noel McGee had to be content with places on the bench. Dave O’Dowd was still sidelined through injury.

Sunderland outclassed Cobh Ramblers recently, scoring four goals without reply, and as soon as this tie kicked off, a similar scoreline looked very possible. Sunderland could not have gotten a better start.

They opted for kick off after winning the coin toss, and had the ball in the Athlone net before any home player had even touched the ball. Michael Chopra picked up possession thirty yards from goal, and weaved his way towards the box - the ball broke and Richardson was in quickly to stab it past the Athlone keeper from seven yards.

The visitors made it two after ten minutes. Anthony Stokes was fouled by Athlones Ian Rossitor twenty five yards from goal. Stokes took the free kick himself and forced Ciaran Kelly into a decent save. Kelly parried the left footed shot, but Chopra collected it, had time to turn, and finished low into the far bottom corner.

Millar was then set up by Richardson, but the Irish mans shot from twenty yards was easily held. Melbranque was taking up a familiar position on the left wing, and immediately after Athlone had forced two corners, he nearly provided the assist for Sunderland’s third goal. Receiving the ball from Stokes, the Belgium born player flicked a neat ball into the box for Richardson. The former Manchester Utd man did well to get his shot in, but Kelly blocked it with his chest and the chance was gone.

Ten minutes before half time, Athlone keeper Kelly was again called on. Carlos Edwards left a trail of four Athlone players in his wake on the right wing, before cutting the ball back towards the penalty spot. Stokes directed a powerful header goalwards, which Kelly was only able to half block. Right back Rossitor completed the task and hooked the ball off the line.

Athlone had a glimpse of goal as the half was ending, as a mistake in the Sunderland defence gifted them a chance. Joey Maloney had possession on the left at the corner of the box, but his cross, intended for John Mernagh, was cut out by Darren Ward in the Sunderland goal.

Chopra and Stokes continued to cause the Athlone defence a number of problems, but wayward finishing had a lot to do with the score remaining just two nil as the sides left the field for half time.

Two Athlone substitutes, Eric Lavine and McGee, combined well early in the second half, but Chimbonda sensed the danger and covered well. Chopra looked keen to get another and fired wide twice from good positions before the hour mark. The former Cardiff striker managed to hit the target just after the hour mark, but Kelly produced a fine save, pushing the ball around the post and away for a corner.

Sunderlands third goal came on sixty three minutes - and it was no surprise that it was Chopra that got it. He smashed in a powerful low shot from thirty yards, giving Kelly little chance.

El Hadji Diouf was introduced with fifteen minutes to go, and within three minutes of his introduction he provided the assist for Sunderlands fourth of the night. He received the ball with his back to goal and passed it off for another substitute, Grant Leadbitter, to strike. Leadbitter struck it cleanly and it flew into the top corner of the net.

Diouf scored himself with a minute to go, with his shot from the edge of the box beating Kelly. Darly Murphy then brought the night’s proceedings to an end, when in injury time he took advantage of a mistake by the Athlone defence and calmly slotted the ball home from close range.

Athlone Town: Ciaran Kelly (Richie Fitzgibbon 46); Ian Rossiter (Niall Scullion 57), Nigel Keady (Robbie Hamm 46). Jim Sheridan (Des Hope 46), Philip Reilly (Darren Young 63); Colm Jinks (Anthony Hayes 63), Joey Maloney (Declan Fallon 57), Carmine Russo, Jason McCartney (Eric Lavine 46); Johnny Mernagh (Noel McGee 46), Ian Coffey.

Sunderland: Darren Ward (Marton Fulop 57); Dean Whitehead, Michael Liddle, Liam Miller (Grant Leadbitter 46), Pascal Chimbonda (Collins 85); Danny Higginbottom, Carlos Edwards, Kieran Richardson (Daryl Murphy 57), Steed Melbranque (El Hadji Diouf 74); Michael Chopra, Anthony Stokes.
Sub not used: Teemu Tianio.