Credit:
Wexford Youths -v- Athlone Town
- Niall Farrell
- Thu, Apr 14 2011
Wexford Youths will look to build on their shock win over Limerick last weekend, their first of the season, when they face Athlone Town at Ferrycarrig Park on Friday night. (Kick off, 8pm)
The three points that Noel O’Connor’s men picked up at Jackman Park were much needed, having lost their opening four league games. But the fact that the Youths kept a clean sheet will have proved particularly pleasing. In all Wexford had conceded twelve goals in those four games but an astonishing nine of those came in just the last two; a 4-2 defeat to Shelbourne and a 5-3 reverse at home to Mervue United.
Slow starts are something that Wexford are used to but they have traditionally managed to recover and forge their way up the table, often contrary to expectation. It is a brief lesson in history that Athlone may do well to heed.
Athlone, making the longest away trip possible for them in the league, lost heavily to league leaders Shelbourne at home last Saturday. They also lost away to Longford the week before but prior to that the midlanders had opened up their campaign with three draws.
It was a solid start for a very young squad who were widely expected to struggle and it is worth pointing out that two of the division’s more celebrated sides, Cork City and Waterford United, were held by MIke Kerley’s men.
The most worrying aspect of Athlone’s season to date is that they have so far only managed to score one league goal. Gary Higgins was the man who got it on the club’s trip to fellow strugglers Wexford Youths. This is something that Wexford fans will be relieved to hear given the porous tendencies of their own defence but it also something that Kerley will be aware his young players must overcome.
In terms of the league table there is little between the two sides. They are level on points with Wexford ahead of Athlone only on goal difference. It is a game that neither will feel they can afford to lose but one that will offer little consolation to either should it end in a draw.
Jamie Carr and Gary Higgins will both miss out for Athlone after they picked up hamstring injuries, with diagnoses putting the duo out for up to four weeks. Bobby Tier and Brian Gill could both come back into Kerley's team after they were taken off injured last week against Shelbourne.
Wexford Youths:
Injured: Unknown.
Doubtful: Unknown.
Suspended: None.
Athlone Town:
Injured: Jamie Carr (Hamstring), Gary Higgins (Hamstring).
Doubtful: Bobby Tier, Brian Gill.
Suspended: None.
Referee: Keith Callanan.
Paddypower.com Odds: Wexford 10/11; Draw 11/5; Athlone 11/4.
Extratime.ie Prediction: 1-0 to Wexford.
About Niall Farrell
Niall Farrell is our correspondent at Tolka Park, covering the goings-on at Shelbourne. You can visit Niall's website for further information and contact details- niallf.net.