- Josh Dolan
- Sat, May 24 2014
Keith Long and Athlone Town gained their first win of the season on Friday, as second half goals from Kealan Dillon and Sean Brennan helped the Midlanders to a 2-0 victory over UCD at The Athlone Town Stadium.
Athlone had a chance to take the lead after just five minutes when full back Stephen Quigley played the ball in behind James Kavanagh. Graham Rusk played the ball across the box where a number of Athlone players were waiting to tap the ball home, only for ex Athlone man, Robbie Benson to clear the ball to safety.
UCD had their first chance on eight minutes as Samir Belhout picked the ball up in the penalty box before twisting and turning and playing the ball back for Robbie Creevy, who shot a safe distance wide of Paul Skinner’s post.
Creevy was involved again moments later, as he slid in Samir Belhout, but the striker’s left footed effort sailed wide of Skinner’s goal.
Aaron Callaghan’s side should have been in front after 13 minutes when Belhout picked out Benson, who in turn rolled the ball on for Gary Burke, and his shot was deflected wide. He really should have scored!
Athlone created very little in the first half, and settled for long range efforts for the majority of the first period. For UCD Chris Mulhall was denied a goal minutes before the break. The winger was picked out by Belhout on the edge of the box, only for Alan Byrne to clear his effort off the goal line.
Callaghan saw his side pass up another guilt edged opportunity seconds before half time, as Tom O’Halloran cut inside before unleashing a powerful effort that Skinner parried straight to Belhout, who smashed his shot off the cross-bar from six yards.
Keith Long must have given his side a serious dressing down at the break, as his charges came out a completely different side, and Jason Marks had a great chance to give Athlone the lead inside five minutes of the restart. Sean Brennan picked the ball up on the right before crossing for Marks, who clipped the post with the deafest of touches.
However, the post was only to delay Athlone’s celebrations, as Long’s side took the lead one minute later. Mark Hughes latched onto a long clearance before beating Matthews and chipping the ball over O’Donnell. The ball came back off the cross-bar but the ball fell to Kealan Dillon, who slotted the ball into an empty net.
Jason Marks has come into Keith Long’s side in recent weeks and he came close to doubling the Midlander’s lead after 54 minutes. The winger shot vigorously from 20 yards only for O’Donnell to catch the effort.
Sean Brennan extended Athlone’s lead on the hour mark, as Dillon’s corner was headed back across goal by Alan Byrne, O’ Donnell then dropped the ball under pressure, and Sean Brennan tapped in to extend The Midlander’s lead.
Burke had a chance to pull a goal back for UCD on the 65th minute when James Kavanagh ran from deep before playing the midfielder through the channel. However, the ex Bohs man’s effort was well saved by Skinner in the Athlone goal.
The Students performance was summed up on 86 minutes, as substitute, Barry McCabe found Matthews, who played the ball across the box for Belhout, who totally miss kicked the ball.
Athlone Town: Paul Skinner; Stephen Quigley (Neil Harney 72), Derek Prendergast, Alan Byrne, Barry Clancy; Sean Byrne, Kealan Dillon, Mark Hughes; Sean Brennan (Philip Gorman 87), Graham Rusk, Jason Marks (Ian Sweeney 76).
Subs Not Used: Craig Sexton (gk), Declan Brennan, Michael Monaghan; Ian Fletcher.
Booked: Stephen Quigley (41), Graham Rusk (69).
UCD: Conor O’Donnell; Gareth Matthews, Hugh Douglas, James Kavanagh, Mark Langtry; Robbie Creevy, Robbie Benson, Gary Burke (Barry McCabe 73); Chris Mulhall, Samir Belhout, Tom O’Halloran (Dwayne Wilson 71).
Subs Not Used: Ger Barron (gk), Michael Scott, Tomas Boyle, Ian Ryan, Greg Slogged.
Booked: None.
Referee: Ray Matthews.
Attendance: 400 (estimate).
Extratime.ie Man Of The Match: Mark Hughes (Athlone Town).
