Published: Wednesday, 10th March, 2010 5:00pm

Athlone Town see off league newboys in tight Galway clash

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Salthill Devon 0 Athlone Town 1

A goal in the tenth minute by Athlone's Austin Skelly ensured the visitors came away from an historic first-ever League of Ireland First Division encounter with all the spoils.

It's the second successive year that Athlone have spoiled the baptism of a Galway club in the First Division. Last year, the Town travelled to Terryland Park to overcome Mervue Utd on a similar scoreline.

Athlone gave league debuts to seven players, whilst former club player Brian McCarthy made his first league start in his second spell at the club.

Only three of last year's squad, Austin Skelly, Des Hope and Kevin Williamson were included in the starting eleven.

Experienced midfielder Stephen Caffrey was a surprise inclusion, after missing much of the pre-season friendlies through illness.

In a narrow and short pitch at Drom, where kick-outs tended to land on the edge of the opposition box, there was a helter-skelter feel to the game, which suited the home side.

Athlone, when they settled on the ball, produced the finer football, but Salthill's all-action style allowed them to take control after the break, leaving Athlone somewhat nervously hanging on for all three points.

In the opening minutes, it was the hosts who registered the first few changes. Firstly, a Sean Murphy free-kick in the third minute stung the hands of Bennion in the Athlone goal who caught at the second attempt before Bennion then denied Salthill winger Sean Boyle with a fine save from a one-on-one in the fifth minute, after a through ball had split open the visitors' defence.

It was the away outfit though that scored the game's one and only goal and they did so in the tenth minute when Austin Skelly got on the end of a Robbie Farrell cross and swivelling to fire home low into the bottom corner.

Skelly and Farrell's interplay was a feature of the game throughout and

Athlone's far greater height in nearly every position gave them a lot of the scrappy possession around the middle of the park, particularly in the first half, where the experienced Stephen Caffrey showed his years of experience, before tiring after the break.

Athlone should have extended their advantage on 35 minutes when Brian McCarthy had a chance blocked down in the 35th minute by Devon defender James Whelan after a free-kick straight from the training ground had put him in on goal. After a goalmouth scramble, the home side eventually managed to clear the lines.

It was the visitors who appeared more willing to show a little patience and play the ball to feet when given the opportunity - and when they did they tended to create opportunities.

Throughout the first half, Athlone's Richie O'Hanlon was energetic down the right wing in the opening half whilst full-back Mark Nolan also impressed.

Overall, the home side were the better team in the second half as Athlone began to be outbattled in midfield. However Salthill narrowly escaped when Athlone struck the crossbar on 70 minutes through another Skelly effort after clever interplay with Kevin Williamson had unhinged the Salthill defence.

Robbie Farrell also went close although the vast majority of the possession late on fell to the home side.

The closest they came was when a stunning strike from outside the area by substitute Shane Browne in the 81st minute smacked off the crossbar.

From then until the end, Salthill had all the possession but failed to come up with much more than high balls towards the Athlone goal, which the bigger travelling side dealt with relatively comfortably.

A late 20-metre free four minutes into injury time had the decent travelling Athlone contingent worrying, but when the ball sailed over the bar, with it went Salthill's hopes of a victory.

Up next for Athlone is the visit of Mervue United to Lissywollen next Saturday evening in the first home fixture of the campaign with the kick-off time at 7.30pm

Salthill Devon: Forde, Quinlan, Murphy (O Leidhinn, 45), Geraghty, Whelan, McConnell, Horgan, Porter, Gilmore, Marienek (Burke, 88), Boyle (Browne, 62).

Athlone Town: Bennion, Nolan, O'Shea, Caffrey, Hope, McCarthy, Kenna, Williamson (Benson, 90), Farrell, Skelly (Place, 86), O'Hanlon.

Referee: J. McKell