League Preview: Cobh Ramblers -v- Athlone Town

• Fran Reilly
• Fri, May 01 2015




COBH RAMBLERS

Stephen Henderson's new reign will face its sternest test to date when Athlone Town visit St. Colman's Park for the first time this season on Saturday. When these two met on the second day of the 2015 campaign, the Midlands side ran out 4-0 winners as the Rams were on their way to conceding 13 goals in their opening four league games.

 

Things have markedly improved since the appointment of Stephen Henderson however, with Cobh only conceding twice in the four First Division games the new boss has overseen so far – with the Cork side unbeaten in those four games (two wins, two draws). 

That said, Cobh were somewhat fortunate to come away from Belfield with a point last week after UCD spurned a host of chances in their 1-1 draw, Stephen Kenny's 61^st minute penalty cancelling out Ryan Swan's first half strike. 

So while the Rams may have found the resolve which was absent at the start of the season, Henderson will be quick to highlight lessons to be learned from the game against the Students – namely, that concession of multiple chances will be punished against the stronger sides in the league.

 

The good news for Cobh is that both Graham McCarthy and Shane O'Connor are available again after serving suspensions for accumulative bookings, while Andrew Bhandarkar is back in contention after missing last week's trip to Dublin with an ankle knock.

 

However, Rob Waters (back), Darren Murphy Snr. and Peter White all miss out once again, while Chris McCarthy (knee) and Rob Lynch (hamstring) will be forced to join that trio on the sideline this week.

 

 

ATHLONE TOWN

It was T.S. Eliot who wrote “April is the cruelest month” and Athlone Town boss Eddie Wallace will be hoping he was right after the Lissywollen side's impressive start to the season in March was negated by a difficult spell last month.

 

Four league games yielded only one victory – against table-proppers Waterford United – as the Midlanders fell to 1-0 defeats against promotion rivals Finn Harps and Wexford Youths while also dropping points against League of Ireland newboys Cabinteely. Wallace's side were also beaten 3-1 by Shamrock Rovers in the Leinster Senior Cup, but that result is of little consequence to Athlone.

 

The Town are currently six points adrift of league leaders Harps and Wallace will be keen for his players to put a poor April behind them and start closing that gap by inflicting a first league defeat of the season on his opposite number Stephen Henderson.

 

However, with joint-top goalscorer and captain Philly Gorman missing once again with an ankle knock – and approximately three weeks out from a return – Wallace will be looking to his other top marksman Garbhan Couglan to rediscover his scoring touch. The former Limerick FC man scored four goals in four league games in March before going through the whole of April without hitting the target.

Wallace will also have to plan once again without the services of Philly Hand (hamstring), Aidan Friel (knee) and Eric Foley. However, Ian Sweeney has played himself into contention, despite a lack of match fitness, after a strong showing in the defeat to Rovers – his first appearance since re-signing for the club during the week.

 

Referee: Simon Rogers.

 

 

MATCH STATS

Garbhan Couglan is Athlone's joint-top goalscorer in the league alongside Philly Gorman with four goals, but he scored all of those in March, including a brace against Cobh in the 4-0 win in Lissywollen – he didn't find the net once in five games in April in all competitions (four starts and a substitute appearance versus Waterford United).

 

Despite the recent upturn in results, Cobh Ramblers have still only scored five times this season – only Cabinteely have a lower return (4) at this stage. In contrast, Athlone are the second highest goalscorers in the league with 13 – they are trumped by Wexford Youths who have scored 18, though they were aided by a 7-0 demolition of Cabinteely.

 

The Rams haven't beaten Athlone since Kevin Murray's crucial goal gave them a 1-0 victory at Lissywollen in November 2007 which saw Stephen Henderson's side crowned First Division champions for the first and only time to date. 

The two sides have only played each other five times since, with Athlone winning the last two meetings and the other three ending in draws.

 

 

BETTING

Cobh Ramblers 4/1; Draw 23/10; Athlone Town 4/6.

 

PREDICTION

Cobh Ramblers 1-2 Athlone Town.

 

 

Cobh Ramblers

Injured: Robbie Waters (back), Chris McCarthy (knee), Rob Lynch (hamstring), Darren Murphy Snr., Peter White.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

 

Athlone Town

Injured: Aidan Friel (knee), Philly Hand (hamstring), Philly Gorman (ankle), Eric Foley.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.