Preview: Athlone Town vs Dundalk

• Keith Wallace
• Thu, Apr 24 2008




Undefeated league leaders Dundalk travel to Lissywoollen this Saturday evening hoping to maintain, and possibly extend, their three-point lead at the top of the eircom League of Ireland First Division table when they do battle with Athlone Town (kick-off 7.30pm). If Waterford fail to beat Shelbourne at Tolka Park on Friday night, then Dundalk will shoot five points clear at the summit should they take a win away from the midlands 24 hours later.

With two wins on the trot against Waterford United and Limerick 37, the confident Lilywhites will enter this weekend’s clash with a chance to extend the club’s longest ever winning sequence against Athlone. John Gill has seen his side take victory away from this fixture on seven consecutive occasions since August 2006, with the aggregate score from those matches reading 21-3 in favour of Dundalk.

Still, however, history will count for little here, as the hosts will be bidding to kick-start their season following a disappointing opening to the campaign. The midlanders have won just one of their seven games to date - that sole win coming in Monaghan three weeks ago. They are, however, unbeaten at home so far, as they have drawn all three of their league games at Lissywoollen.

Team News: Dundalk manager John Gill again has no suspension worries, however, doubts surround the participation of both striker Trevor Vaughan and winger Davie O’Connor. Vaughan sat out last week’s trip to Limerick with an ankle knock, while O’Connor was forced off in the first-half of that win with a nasty knee injury. Elsewhere, Gill should have a full panel to choose from, though goalkeeper Aaron Shanahan is still struggling following a tackle from Robbie Doyle at Sporting Fingal three weeks ago, a challenge which resulted in the striker being sent-off.

Athlone Town, meanwhile, will be without suspended midfielder Davy Byrne, who has been given an additional one-match ban following a red card at Shelbourne last month.