Published: Friday, 11th September, 2009 10:00am

Luckless Athlone only manage a draw at home to basement boys

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Athlone Town 2; Kildare County 2.

Athlone Town's Robbie Benson on the attack during last weekend's League of Ireland First Division clash against Kildare County. Photo: Ann Hennessy.

Athlone Town extended their winless streak in the league to eleven games after a disappointing draw with basement side Kildare County.

The visitors, who have admittedly being improving in recent weeks, were still rooted to the bottom of the table and Athlone - having beaten Kildare on three occasions already this season (including in the cup) - would surely have banked on the three points from this home fixture.

However, Athlone, in contrast to Kildare, are on a slump, having failed to win a league match since victory away to Kildare on May 30.

The home side were the better throughout but ceded two soft goals to the league's whipping boys - and, at the moment, can't seem to buy a win. They now face a struggle to avoid slipping into the lower reaches of the division, with Mervue Utd and Longford Town queuing up behind them.

Indeed, in the worst case scenario, Athlone are still not free of the spectre of re-election, with the improving Kildare eleven points behind them, with a potential 36 points to play for.

With Alex O'Reilly still injured, John McGuinness was again in goal, while Robbie Hamm got the nod at right back ahead of Niall O'Reilly and Tom O'Halloran was restored to the left wing.

Athlone were probably the better side in a relatively unexciting opening half. Robbie Benson's darting runs were being caught in the Kildare off-side trap, but Athlone should have gone ahead on 23 minutes when Kildare defender David Long slipped in his own box leaving Franco Georgescu free and the in-rushing Benson was inches from connecting with the goal gaping.Two minutes later, Kildare created a chance out of nothing and goalkeeper John McGuinness needed to be alert to deal with a Philip Hughes shot from all of 25 metres.

The experienced Hughes was a thorn in Athlone's side all night and he mercilessly attempted to exploit the lack of inches of Athlone keeper John McGuinness.

As the half progressed, Mark Salmon, easily Athlone's best player on the night, began to exert his influence in midfield, displaying a fine range of passing skills.

It was a free-kick from Salmon which brought an acrobatic effort from Luke Hardy which flew just over the Kildare bar.

Soon after, an Austin Skelly snapshot was drew a smart save from Colin Cassidy and Tom O'Halloran was unable to pick out a colleague with the loose ball.In the dying minutes of the half, Mark Salmon's shot from the edge of the box was well held by Cassidy.

Despite Athlone's apparent control of the game, the home side fell behind on 53 minutes when Hughes swept home an opportunist strike.

The goal, though, was mired in controversy as it appeared the ball had clearly gone out of play in front of the Athlone dug out. Kildare, though, made the most of the break and swept upfield. Hughes held off the Athlone defence before lobbing a statuesque McGuinness who was stranded off his line.

Six minutes later, Athlone were on level terms when Mark Salmon's left-wing free-kick was powered home with a thumping header at the far post by central defender Des Hope.

A game that had limped along suddenly burst into life and Athlone went in front on 62 minutes after David Long was booked for a foul on Franco Georgescu on the right edge of the Kildare penalty box.Benson's in-swinging free kick floated through the crowded goalmouth and into the far corner. But within a minute, Athlone's defensive hesitancy was again exposed as Luke Hardy and Des Hope failed to deal with the threat of Orrin Farrell, whose clipped effort took a slight deflection and soared over the exposed McGuinness.

As the game was about to restart, Kildare's David Long was issued with a second yellow, apparently for some comment, and his side were forced to play out the remaining 28 minutes with just ten men.

Despite the numerical advantage, it was only in the last ten minutes that Athlone began to impose sustained pressure on the Kildare defence. Substitute Noel McGee looked like Athlone's likeliest source of an equaliser and the striker was inches from connecting with a Benson cross late on.McGee perhaps should have scored in injury time after cleverly creating space for himself in the box, but his effort was straight at the Kildare keeper. The rebound fell to Dave O'Connor, who also spurned the chance, by shooting unerringly at Cassidy.It was another one that got away in a season that looks like petering out disappointingly for Brendan Place's men.

Athlone Town: John McGuinness, Robbie Hamm, Luke Hardy, Des Hope (David Tyrell 67), Brian Cleary, Franco Georgescu, Mark Salmon, David O'Connor, Tom O'Halloran (Noel McGee 73), Austin Skelly, Robbie Benson

Kildare County: Colin Cassidy, Craig Purcell (Gavin Kinsella 89), David Byrne (Trevor Bowers 73), Dean Lawrence, David Long, Cathal Brady, Baba Issaka, Darren O'Brien, Christy Doran (Colm Daly 66), Orrin Farrell, Philip Hughes.

Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford).