League Preview: Cabinteely -v- Athlone Town

• Andrew Dempsey
• Mon, Jun 04 2018




CABINTEELY

Almost one year to the day since their high-profile friendly against New Zealand at Stradbrook, Cabinteely welcome perennial First Division strugglers Athlone Town to the south Dublin venue on June’s Bank Holiday Monday (kick-off is 3pm).

After producing a fantastic display against table toppers UCD in their last home game in a comfortable 2-0 victory, Cabo were unable to follow up on their recent south Dublin Derby success as they succumbed to a 2-0 away defeat to Drogheda United at United Park on Friday night.  

However, it has been a marked improvement from Kieran Marty Waters and Co. in recent weeks as Cabinteely look to salvage their season as we head into the mid-season break in just a fortnight’s time.

It has been a frustrating season so far for Cabo as they failed to establish the right balance between attack and defence, as their five at the back tactical system has failed to have the desired effect in terms of results. 

Despite turning in some very convincing displays against the First Division’s elite both home and away, Cabo have been unable to grab those three points when it really matters hence they lie in a far from ideal seventh place. 

Should Cabo register that straight-forward win that everyone is anticipating, they will remain in that position but could close the gap on sxith placed Longford Town to five points for a brief spell as the ambitious club from the Dublin suburbs look to get their faltering season back on track as soon as possible. 

Cabinteely have failed to provide any team news for Monday’s game. 

We face Athlone Town on Monday afternoon in Stradbrook, kick off at 3pm. pic.twitter.com/5yKH6ylhPX

— Cabinteely FC (@Cabinteely_FC) June 2, 2018

 

ATHLONE TOWN

With it now being over 13 months since their last league victory in the First Division, crisis club Athlone Town will be hoping that they can finally end that barren run with a win over Cabinteely on Bank Holiday Monday.

With some improved recent showings culminating with a draw against Midland’s rivals Longford Town in their last home game, it was back to square one again for Terry Butler and his Athlone Town side last Friday. They fell to a heavy 4-0 defeat to Finn Harps up in Ballybofey. 

With the improved nature of their recent performances, it seems inevitable that Athlone will finally break their long run without a win which now stands at 394-days. However they will be under no illusions that it will not come easily in an ultra-competitive division. 

With betting odds of as high as 14/1 indicating an Athlone Town win, it truly does emphasise the scale of the task facing the Midlander’s on Monday afternoon. 

Of course, Athlone did hold Cabinteely to just the one goal last time these sides met at Stradbrook before floodlight issues put pay to proceedings at the Stradbrook Road venue, but you would expect this new challenge to exceed that one by a considerable margin.

Athlone have once again failed to provide any team news for this June Bank Holiday Monday clash. 

 

Referee:Paula Brady 

 

MATCH STATS

Last time these sides net at Stradbrook it was Cabinteely who ran out easy winners in a 6-2 success over their Midlands counterparts. Kieran Marty Waters bagged a hat-trick on that occasion to make sure that it was a night to forget for the League of Ireland’s oldest professional club. 

Athlone’s last win at Stradbrook came all the way back in 2015 as a Daniel Purdy brace set the Town on their way to a comfortable victory at the South Dublin venue. 

Should Athlone fail to win once again at Stradbrook, it would mean that the famous old club from the Midlands will have gone 395 days without a league win. Their last win of course came against Cobh Ramblers on May 5^th, 2017. 

 

BETTING

Cabinteely 1/10; Draw 13/2; Athlone Town 14/1.

 

PREDICTION

Cabinteely 3-0 Athlone Town

 

Cabinteely 

Injured:Unknown.

Doubtful:Unknown.

Suspended:None.

 

Athlone 

Injured:Unknown.

Doubtful:Unknown.

Suspended: None.