ATFC v YOUTHS

Athlone Town vs Wexford Youths
Vs
Airtricity League Division 1
Friday 6th April 2012
Athlone Town Stadium
Kick Off 7.45pm

HOME TO YOUTHS NEXT! with youths 1 point ahead of us we will want to win this one to get back on track, a decent performance against limerick has the fans expectations raised, and hopefully the players can get us those 3 points!!
any news on injuries/suspensions? is noelly fit to start?
come on the town!!!!

Athlone Town -v- Wexford Youths
by Alan Finn
Fri, Apr 06 2012



ATHLONE TOWN

Athlone Town will enter their game with Wexford Youths tomorrow night knowing that a victory would see them leapfrog their opponents into third place in the First Division table.



Mike Kerley will be without the services of long-term absentees Stephen Relihan and Roy King while Damien Rushe and Robbie Kelleher have been rated as 50/50 and are expected to be assessed before the game.



Athlone have one of the best defensive records in the League, conceding just four goals in their five league games to date, but they face a side who have the best scoring and defensive record, with eleven goals scored and just three conceded.



The Town are coming off the back of a 1-0 loss to pre-season title favourites Limerick FC, but results at Lissywoolen in recent seasons have been in favour of the home side who haven't lost to the Youths since April 2009.



WEXFORD YOUTHS

Wexford have been raising a few eyebrows already this season. They currently have the best scoring record, best defensive record and sit in third place just three points off the top spot. Not bad for a side who little was expected of for this season.



Shane Keegan has very little to worry about on the injury front, with Mark Phelan being the only doubt due to a head cold he has been carrying all week.



The Youths come into this game off the back of another win, this time a 2-0 victory over lowly Mervue United and Keegan has every right to feel confident. However, he sees this as Wexford’s toughest away fixture yet. "Our away performances haven’t been overly impressive so far but we have managed to take four points from six away from home, this is arguably the toughest of the away fixtures we have faced so far."



"Athlone are flying, they have had a very good start to the season, much as ourselves, they are a good side, they made steady progress last year. I’ve seen them play twice so far this season and they are good in every department, there’s no major weak spot but we are carrying a bit of form going into this and the way we are playing at the moment we wouldn’t fear anyone so we are looking forward to it."



Referee: Kevin O'Regan



MATCH STATS

Wexford Youths haven't won away to Athlone Town since April 2009.



The last game between the two sides ended in a 3-3 draw in Ferrycarrig Park.



Noel McGee is Athlone's top scorer in the League with three goals. Tom Elmes is Wexford's top scorer with five.



BETTING

Odds: Athlone Town 5/4; Draw 9/4; Wexford Youths 15/8.



PREDICTION

Athlone Town 1-2 Wexford Youths



Athlone Town Injury News: Stephen Relihan, Roy King.

Athlone Town Suspension News:None.



Wexford Injury News: Mark Phelan (Doubt).

Wexford Suspension News: None.

Cant see why he reckons they will beat us. I still they will be well down the table soon enough

Predict 2-0 home win

I wouldn't worry, they've been predicting losses for us all season so far, even against Salthill and Mervue!

Very dull performance tonight with only the last 10 minutes producing any will to win. Great shot from McGee rattling the crossbar with Williamson unlucky when he dragged the rebound wide.
Sherlock through and clearly brought down in what should have been a stone wall penalty and a sending off for the Wexford defender. TERRIBLE REFEREEING DECISION, NO WONDER THEY ARE ALWAYS IN THE WARS.
Another thing was our set pieces from corners and from free kicks, very disappointing.
Anyway, we need to improve our overall performance and belief in ourselves if we want to beat the teams in the top half of the division.

just back from gun club meeting and f**k me we got bet by wexford????!!!!!! well bollox it anyway

bad result for a home game, down to 5th in the table now.... OH HERE WE GO!!!

Does anyone know this forum exists? I thought there would be a lot more comment!!

link for it was placed on the old forum. we have 20 sumthin members. Nobody borthers though.
I only set it up as the other forum was gone to hell

Maybe it could be mentioned on the website. Battery Rover, how about it?

Athlone Town 0 - 1 Wexford Youths
by John McCormack
Sat, Apr 07 2012

Athlone Town suffered their third straight home defeat as they were beaten by Wexford Youths in Lissywollen on Friday night.

Danny Furlong’s strike just before the hour mark gave the visitors a victory in a game that displayed more endeavour than technique. The win sees Shane Keegan’s men leapfrog Limerick claiming 2nd place a tightly contested race for promotion to the Premier Division.

Wexford had the better of the early exchanges and Dean Broaders started the game brightly running down the left flank and injecting pace into the game whenever he got on the ball. His teasing cross in the opening minutes almost saw the Tommy Barrett diverting the ball into his own net as he was forced to intercept as Wexford had players lurking. Luckily for the defender the ball hit the post and out for a corner.

The home side were being forced back and had only a couple of corners to show for their efforts in the first quarter of an hour. These were wasted as, much to the home fans frustration, they failed to beat the first defender and were easily cleared.

Not that the Warriors (WTF) were having much better luck as the ball seemed to spend most of its time heading towards the darkening midlands sky.

Town did get a sniff of goal when Mark Walsh intercepted a wayward back header from Jamie Carr but his shot was blocked.

It was the visitors who were gradually gaining control in a frantic middle third and when Tom Elmes was fouled on the edge of the area Shane Dempsey dinked a wonderful free kick over the wall but past the upright.

The game was being played mostly around the middle of the park with both sides fully committed to the challenges that were occurring with increasing regularity and referee, Kevin O’Regan, could have went for his card on a number of occasions before he booked Warren Conroy and then Craig Wall just after the half hour mark.

Athlone Town were gifted an opportunity just before the break and Graham Doyle in the Wexford goal can count himself very lucky as Mark Sherlock nearly picked his pocket when he dallied over a back pass, but the keeper did well to recover and avert the danger.

Half time saw a swirling rain blow across the pitch and when the game resumed it was Wexford who attempted to take advantage of the better passing conditions as they set about looking for the opener.

They nearly got it as the referee played a good advantage when Tommy Barrett clattered into Aidan Keenan and the ball ran through for Elmes who forced Pat Jennings to get down smartly to his left and save.

The Midlanders keeper could do nothing minutes later when a long clearance made its way to Danny Furlong. The captain was coolness personified as he slotted it home to give his side a deserved lead.

The goal spurred Athlone into action with Noel McGhee forcing a save from Graham Doyle and substitute Garvan Broughall causing problems on the right flank.

Wexford weathered the storm and looked dangerous on the break as Danny Furlong was only inches away from doubling the lead with a sweet volley on 75 minutes.

The home fans wanted a penalty with five minutes to go when Brian Nolan challenged McGhee in the area but the referee was not impressed and Wexford held on for a win that was just about deserved on the balance of play. (Not very good reporting now is it)

Athlone Town: Pat Jennings; Joe Woods (Garvan Broughall 53), Tommy Barrett, Brian McCarthy, Ross Kenny; Darren Coleman (Val Feeney 66), Jason Hughes, Warren Conroy (Kevin Williamson 46), Mark Walsh; Mark Sherlock, Noel McGhee.
Subs not used: Brian Collopy, Brian Gill, Paul Danaher, Niall Scullion.

Bookings: Conroy (31), Barrett (48).

Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle; Brian Nolan, Jamie Carr, CJ Browne, James Dermody; Aidan Keenan, Shane Dempsey, Craig Wall, Dean Broaders; Tom Elmes, Danny Furlong (Shane Nolan 89).
Subs not used: Cormac O’Brien, James Scallon, Martin Keogh, Shaun Corcoran, Paul Malone, Thomas Croke.

Bookings: Wall (34), Keenan (82).

Referee: Kevin O’Regan.

Attendance: 358
Extratime Man of the Match: Dean Broaders (Wexford Youths).

Oh No wrote:

Maybe it could be mentioned on the website. Battery Rover, how about it?

this is an unofficial forum so it cant be advertised on the official website for obvious reasons, both myself the admin and battery have advertised this forum on facebook, after that i dont know what can be done, people arent bothered anymore i guess,