- Gareth O'Reilly
- Fri, Mar 21 2014
UCD recorded a deserved victory over Mick Cooke’s Athlone Town on Friday evening. The game saw the Students battle to their first three points of the season after goals from Robbie Creevy and Aymen Ben Mohamed set them on their way before Philly Gorman pegged one back ten minutes from time.
Philly Gorman won a penalty that was then ruled out after just three minutes of play. Gorman was taken down by Michael Barker and although referee Sean Grant pointed to the spot his linesman on the touchline also had his flag up to signal that Gorman had strayed into an offside position.
In a first half where chances were few and far between Creevy went extremely close to putting the students in front as he managed to force Paul Skinner into a save after he connected perfectly with a Chris Mulhall cross from the right wing.
Cillian Morrison should have put the home side ahead as we moved towards the half hour mark when he rushed through on goal rounding Skinner in the process but the keeper managed to recover in time to stop the attack.
Just five minutes later Robbie Creevy did get the breakthrough for his side when he headed the ball past Paul Skinner after Chris Mulhall had picked out the centre midfielder with a floated free kick from the left wing.
Athlone had to wait till the fortieth minute before they had their first major chance of the game and it came when Conor McMahon headed just over from an accurately taken corner.
Just three minutes into the second half UCD had their second and it came from Aymen Ben Mohamad's fantastic run down the left wing. The midfielder scored a great solo goal as he steered his way past three Athlone defenders before beautifully slotting the ball past Paul Skinner.
UCD should have gone three to the good as they threatened to run riot on a poor and disjointed looked Athlone Town defence with the latest chance seeing Cillian Morrison blaze the ball spectacularly over the bar from just six yards out.
Then, all of a sudden, Athlone got right back into it when Philly Gorman rose highest in the box to head a deflected cross past Conor O’Donnell from five yards out.
With just ten minutes for UCD to hold out Athlone nearly drew level after Philly Gorman controlled a cross in the box before forcing Conor O’Donnell into a great save. The danger wasn’t over there however as the two resultant corners both once again called upon O’Donnells expertise between the sticks in order to keep the home side on course to claim all three points.
O’Donnell once again was called upon when a free kick from the edge of the box by Sean Byrne had the keeper at full stretch. The young goalkeeper couldn’t hold the powerful effort but showed immense bravery to dive on the loose ball which caused him to get the studs of Alan Byrne implanted on his chest whilst keeping The Students in control.
UCD showed the experience required to see the game out and give Aaron Callaghan his first win in his new job.
UCD AFC: Conor O’Donnell; Michael Barker, Thomas Boyle, Ian Ryan, Mark Langtry; Robbie Benson, Robbie Creevy; Chris Mulhall, Dean Clarke (Hugh Douglas 89), Aymen Ben Mohamed; Cillian Morrison (James Kavanagh 76).
Subs Not Used: Gareth Matthews, Thomas O'Halloran, Gary Burke, Dwayne Wilson, Mark McGinley
Booked: Benson (26), Ben Mohamed (72), Langtry (84)
Athlone Town: Paul Skinner; Kealon Dillon, Derek Prendergast, Conor McMahon (Declan Brennan 88), Sean Byrne; Alan Byrne; Sean Brennan, Graham Rusk (Ian Sweeney 76), Jason Marks (James O’Brien 59), Barry Clancy; Philly Gorman
Subs Not Used: Craig Sexton, Declan Brennan, Mark Hughes, Aidan Collins.
Booked: McMahon (34), Marks (52), A Byrne (86), Prendergast (90+2).
Referee: Sean Grant
Attendance: 203
Extratime.ie Man of The Match: Cilllian Morrison (UCD).
