Published: Wednesday, 17th March, 2010 5:00pm

McCarthy heads winner as Athlone overcome Mervue

Athlone Town 1 Mervue Utd 0

A thumping header from defender Brian McCarthy saw Athlone Town record a second straight win in this year's First Division, when they overcame a resolute Mervue Utd side at Lissywoollen on Saturday.

McCarthy steamed into the Mervue penalty area in the 49th minute to power home a well-delivered corner kick from Stephen Caffrey.

Athlone had enough chances to achieve a far more comfortable victory over the Galway men, but left themselves open to a comeback that Mervue very nearly achieved during the last 20 minutes or so, when Town's new goalkeeper and captain Chris Bennion proved his undoubted worth with a couple of fine saves.

The home side squandered some very clear-cut chances, particularly through their impressive but unlucky new strike pairing Austin Skelly and Robbie Farrell, and also struck the woodwork twice during the second half.

Mervue are by no means among the leading lights in the division, so nobody will get carried away by Athlone's ability to beat them and, one week previously, league newcomers Salthill Devon (also 1-0). But Athlone supporters were looking for a decent start to the campaign and while the Town have not hit top-gear yet, two wins from two games is almost as good as it gets.

Brendan Place handed out eight home debuts, including to veteran midfielder Stephen Caffrey, whose hard-grafting performance was undermined when he received a late red card. The goalscorer, Brian McCarthy, was making his second home debut for the club, having first represented Athlone before spells at Bohemians and Longford Town.

The pick of the new boys turned out to be unknown midfielder Gareth Kenna, signed from Leinster Senior League outfit Dublin Bus. Kenna, who has a cultured left-foot, was assured in possession throughout, and it looked as though he'd been playing league football for several years. Obviously, the jury's still very much out on whether Kenna can sustain this level of form over the course of a full season, but the early signs are that Athlone have a fine midfielder on their hands.

Some of Athlone's attacking play was very good, with Skelly and Farrell linking well, and the latter providing a genuine target for many of Athlone's ventures forward. The Town constantly tried to stretch their opponents but will require more from their wingers in upcoming games, although new right-winger Richie O'Hanlon did, on occasion, look a lively customer.

On the worrying side, Athlone never looked entirely convincing in defence, although Des Hope did produce another solid performance.

His central defensive partner, McCarthy, did struggle at times, though, particularly with through-balls that got him turned, and whether two clean sheets against Mervue and Salthill can be taken as vast improvement upon last season's defensive difficulties, remains to be seen at this early stage. And whilst the effort and commitment of full-backs Eoin O'Shea and Mark Nolan is notable, their distribution and overall game will need to be worked upon over the coming weeks.

On first viewing, though, Athlone supporters seemed content that Brendan Place has sufficiently strengthened the team from last season, with a more experienced and strong core making Athlone a very different side to the inexperienced and often weak outfit they were last year.

Athlone had almost all the chances in the first half. After only four minutes, Skelly and Farrell set up a decent chance for Richie O'Hanlon but the little winger sliced his effort well off target.

Farrell then flicked on a throw-in by O'Shea but Skelly's right-footed snapshot from 20 yards was always going wide. Kenna's quick free kick then gave O'Hanlon another brief sight of goal, but after initially doing well to evade his marker, O'Hanlon shot too close to Ger Hanley. Athlone were looking threatening going forward and should have definitely taken the lead on 20 minutes when Skelly found himself clear through on goal. Skelly tried to round the goalkeeper, who pawed the ball away from the striker and into Farrell's path, but with the 'keeper grounded and out of the picture, Farrell's shot was stopped on the line by Mervue right-back Nicky Curran. Ten minutes later, Skelly was involved once again, but this time headed straight at Hanley after a fine cross by O'Shea. In the closing stages of the first half, Athlone showed a couple of moments of hesitancy at the back, and on once occasion Hope and Bennion were lucky to escape unpunished after getting their wires crossed outside the penalty area. Gerry Burke also volleyed just over Athlone's crossbar in the 35th minute after good work by Ollie Keogh, but the game remained scoreless at half-time.

Upon the restart, Bennion had to react well to palm away Rory Gaffney's shot, which came about after a mistake by McCarthy, while O'Hanlon went close for Athlone when striking just a fraction wide following a corner kick by Caffrey.

But Athlone finally found a deserved breakthrough on 49 minutes. Skelly's neat turn and shot was deflected wide for a corner, and when Caffrey delivered accurately, McCarthy came tearing in from the edge of the box to ram a header past Hanley and into the roof of the net.

The game should have been done and dusted five minutes later when Farrell got free of the Mervue defence but shot inches wide.

On 68 minutes, Kenna sent over a brilliant corner kick from the right. The ball drifted to the back post and Hope was fiercely unlucky to see his header crash off the post.

Athlone could have been home and hosed by this point but, alarmingly, allowed Mervue get a foothold on proceedings during the final 20 minutes.

Substitute Dan Cunningham was making a difference for the visitors and his deep cross set up Kevin Crehan on 71 minutes, but his downward header, from just six-yards, was superbly saved by Bennion. Damien O'Rourke also went close for Mervue when his header, from a Darren Young free kick, sailed narrowly over Bennion's crossbar.

With Mervue throwing many bodies forward in the dying minutes, Athlone orchestrated a swift counter-attack in the 91st. Substitutes Noel McGee and Robbie Benson moved the ball quickly upfield, and O'Hanlon, cutting in from the right flank, unleashed a terrific left-footed drive, which beat Hanley, but struck the post.

Caffrey was then sent off for striking Kevin Crehan off-the-ball and his experience will be sorely missed in the next few games.

Mervue had one last hurrah four minutes into added time but Bennion again saved Athlone, getting down well to keep out David O'Dowd's header, and preserve Athlone's unbeaten start to the season.

Athlone Town: Chris Bennion; Mark Nolan, Eoin O'Shea, Des Hope, Brian McCarthy, Stephen Caffrey, Richie O'Hanlon, Gareth Kenna, Robbie Farrell, Austin Skelly, Kevin Williamson. Subs: Robbie Benson for Williamson (68 mins), Noel McGee for Farrell (86), Stephen Relihan for O'Hanlon (94).

Mervue Utd: Ger Hanley; Nicky Curran, Darren Young, Eric Browne, Damien O'Rourke, Kevin Crehan, Gerry Burke, Pat Hoban, Rory Gaffney, David O'Dowd, Ollie Keogh. Subs: Dan Cunningham for Hoban (57 mins), Enda Curran for Gaffney (66), Mike Tierney for Burke (70).

Referee: Conor Fitzgerald.