Published: Wednesday, 14th October, 2009 5:20pm

Athlone slump to humiliating six-goal defeat

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Athlone Town 0, Finn Harps 6

A second half collapse of humiliating proportions led Athlone Town to their heaviest home defeat since moving to Lissywoollen three years ago when mid-table Finn Harps inflicted a crushing defeat on the home side.

The loss for Athlone - their 16th in total this season and ninth home defeat of the campaign - actually propels them back into the relegation battle somewhat, with bottom placed Kildare County now just eight points behind third from bottom Athlone with four games remaining.

Four goals in the space of nine second half minutes set Finn Harps up for a 6-0 victory over Athlone Town last Friday.

With the game scoreless at the break, nobody could have envisaged what was to come in the second period as Finn Harps seemed to score with every attack.

Michael Funston helped himself to two goals, while Packie Mailey, Stephen McLaughlin, Conor Gethins and substitute Mark Moran all got their names on the scoresheet.

Athlone's previous home outing brought about three rare points when they defeated Wexford Youths but subsequent losses to neighbours Longford Town and now Finn Harps have left them once again looking over their shoulders with games running out.

Brendan Place had a number of selection headaches on his hands with Noel McGee, Robbie Hamm, David O'Connor, Gary Murphy and Des Hope all ruled out for the home team.

Ronan Stack was handed a first competitive start at right back while fellow under-20 players Kevin Horan, Stephen Relihan, Sean Brennan and Padraig Gilsenan were listed among the substitutes.

How different it could have been for the home side if they had converted the game's opening opportunity with Tom O'Halloran being set one on one with the visiting 'keeper on eight minutes. O'Halloran let fly and rippled the net but unfortunately it was the side netting that O'Halloran had found.

In a half of very few opportunities, Mark Salmon had a strike blocked down on 39 minutes after good work by Robbie Benson on the edge of the Harps' penalty area.

Finn Harps did enjoy large spells of possession throughout the opening period but didn't really test Barry Andrews in the Athlone goal.

Athlone then had a claim for a penalty just on the stroke of half-time, when Austin Skelly looked like he was fouled inside the area after a great move involving Benson and O'Halloran, but the referee blew his whistle in favour of the away team as he awarded a free-kick the other way.

Early in the second half, Stephen McLaughlin had a header brilliantly tipped over the bar by Andrews in the Athlone goal, but just 60 seconds later saw the start of nine minutes of madness for the Town.

Jamie Doherty floated in a cross for Finn Harps and after Conor Gethins had flicked it on, Stephen McLaughlin blasted the ball past Andrews at the far post.

Just four minutes later and it was 2-0 as Ciaran Coll's free-kick was headed home by Packie Mailey.

Athlone were now at sixes and sevens and a 63rd minute corner by Gary Whoriskey was met by the head of Michael Funston, who made no mistake from eight yards.

If that header was a goal that can bee seen up and down the country every weekend, Funston's next one certainly was not with the midfielder

letting fly from 30 yards with the outside of his right boot, and the ball crashed into the net off the crossbar.

Conor Gethins then added a fifth for Harps in the 72nd minute after latching onto a long ball from the back before firing home from just inside the area.

Athlone's long suffering supporters were greatly disgruntled while some simply had enough at this stage and decided to take no more pain by heading for the exits.

James Gallagher's men then rounded off the scoring on 76 minutes when substitute Mark Moran pounced in the area to fire home after a scramble to score within 60 seconds of his introduction.

Depending on other results at the bottom of the table, Athlone could possibly require at least another couple of points to ensure First Division football for next season, but it doesn't get any easier for a side leaking goal after goal when they travel to promotion chasing Shelbourne on Friday.

Athlone Town: Barry Andrews; Ronan Stack, Kevin Dunne, Stephen Place, Niall O'Reilly, Anthony Hayes, Mark Salmon, Franco Georgescu, Tom O'Halloran, Robbie Benson, Austin Skelly. Subs: Stephen Relihan for Hayes (61 mins), Kevin Horan for Georgescu (70), Padraig Gilsenan for O'Reilly (80).

Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; James Doherty, Ciaran Coll, Packie Mailey, Sean Roddy, Michael Funston, Christy Connaghan, Mark Forker, Stephen McLaughlin, Conor Gethins, Gary Whoriskey. Subs: Fintan Bonner for Whoriskey (70 mins), Mark Moran for Connaghan (75), Paddy Bonner for McLaughlin (80).

Referee: Sean Grant.