First Division Playoff Preview: Waterford -v- Athlone Town
- Andrew Dempsey
- Sat, Oct 28 2023
WATERFORD
Waterford boss Keith Long has called on his side to rise to the occasion when they host Athlone Town in the second-leg of their promotion play-off against Athlone Town on Saturday (kick-off is at 3pm).
The Blues were held to a 1-1 draw in the first-leg earlier this week.
And while Long was disappointed to have failed to win, he feels his side deserved to.
“We were disappointed to draw the game on Tuesday,” he said. “I think we deserved to come away with the win.
“We dominated lots of the ball, Ronan Coughlan almost got a good second goal and some decisions didn’t go our way in the end too with a couple of penalty shouts.
“Elements of the game were really good and I was really pleased with some of the performances. Hopefully we can show that spirit again on Saturday.
“We had brilliant support in Athlone on Tuesday night, fans travelling up in their numbers to get behind the team and hopefully we’ll get a big crowd on Saturday too.
“We know Athlone are a very dangerous side with lots of talented individuals and are a good hard-working team, so we know we need to earn the right to progress into the final of the play off. We’ve been working hard and we’ll be ready for Saturday.”
ATHLONE TOWN
After claiming a draw in Tuesday’s first-leg at the Athlone Town Stadium, Dario Castelo’s side will visit the RSC in a confident mood.
Frantz Pierrot scored for the Town in their 1-1 stalemate earlier this week after Ronan Coughlan opened the scoring for the visitors.
But Athlone have a good record at the RSC this season having won on their last visit to the venue.
And they know that they can repeat the trick if they are in form.
However, Castelo’s charges are winless in their last six games but have drawn their last two against local rivals Longford Town and Waterford.
They lost the previous four games before that. Athlone have not issued any team news.
Referee: Gavin Colfer.
PREDICTION
Waterford 2-0 Athlone Town
Waterford
Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Athlone Town
Injured: N/A.
Doubtful: N/A.
Suspended: None.
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