Mervue United 0 - 1 Athlone Town

Athlone Town registered their third win of the season against ten man Mervue United to go top of the First Division as a wonderful second half strike from full back Joe Woods settled this affair of the proverbial two halves.

This game turned on the decision by referee Ray Matthews to issue a straight red card to Mervue captain Mike Elwood after a tussle with Garvan Broughall just four minutes before the break. Up to this point the home side had been well on top without putting that dominance on the scoreboard as they squandered numerous good opportunities to put their heads in front.

They were to rue that opening half as Athlone re-emerged for the second period a more confident side and took advantage of the extra man as they went on to break the deadlock and secure all three points.

Mervue created their first chance after only seven minutes as Alex Lee delivered a cross from the right which picked out an unmarked Peter Dravins who guided his header just past Pat Jennings post from six yards. Etanda Nkololo then cut in from the left but saw his on target shot deflected wide by his own teammate Jason Molloy.

Kenny Farrell threaded a lovely ball through the visitors defence on 14 minutes which picked out Dravins’ run but the striker hit a tame effort at the advancing Jennings. Another good Mervue move two minutes later saw Molloy spread a pass across the park to Nkololo who cut in and played a pass into Dravins who turned well in the box but had his effort blocked down by Brian McCarthy.

Nkololo and Molloy combined again on 35 minutes to set up Dravins in the box but the big striker couldn’t get the ball out from his feet quick enough as both McCarthy and keeper Jennings made vital blocks before the ball was cleared.

The visitors only shot on target saw Noel McGee shoot straight at Ronan Forde but the offside flag had been raised as the game was to change on 41 minutes. Elwood and Broughall challenged for a ball on the right wing with the defender adjudged to have elbowed the Athlone player and Matthews produced a straight red.

The visitors looked a different team on the resumption and sensed another win was on the cards as ten man Mervue looked a pale reflection of the side which had dominated that opening half.

It took Mike Kerley’s side until the hour mark to create a decent chance as Woods had a header deflected out for a corner, while McCarthy fired just wide from the edge of the box as Mervue failed to clear from the resultant dead ball.

The only goal of the game arrived out of nothing as full back Woods picked up a loose ball about 25 yards out and hit a well struck effort which flew over Forde and into the roof of the net on 69 minutes.

Two minutes later and Mark Sherlock shot over from a good position and Woods then headed a Williamson corner wide as Athlone looked for second. They should have added that second with five minutes left as Ross Kenny’s cross from the left picked out Sherlock but he couldn’t apply the touch that would have directed the ball past Forde from six yards.

Woods’ strike was enough in the end for Kerley’s side as they moved top of the table for at least twenty four hours anyways, while Johnny Glynn’s side have lost a fourth game on the trot by a single goal as they remain pointless.

Mervue United: Ronan Forde; James Casserly, Kenny Farrell, Mike Elwood, Stephen Walsh; Gary Kelly, Jason Molloy, Alex Lee (Brian Connolly 88), Pat Hoban (Mike Collins ’76); Peter Dravins (Shane Keogh 57), Etanda Nkololo.
Subs not used: Brian O’Donoghue (GK), Daniel Tully.

Booked: Lee (75), Walsh (87).
Sent Off: Elwood (41).

Athlone Town: Pat Jennings; Joe Woods, Paul Danaher, Brian McCarthy, Ross Kenny; Darren Coleman, Garvan Broughall (Val Feeney ’55 (Sean Guerins ’84)), Jason Hughes, Kevin Williamson; Mark Sherlock, Noel McGee.
Subs Not Used: Gareth Higgins (GK), Tommy Barrett, Robbie Kelleher, Brian Gill, Niall Scullion.

Booked: Danaher (75), Williamson (86).

Referee: Ray Matthews (Offaly).
Attendance: 274.