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

Bennion happy with start as new-look Cork come to town

TWO games played. Six points. And no goals conceded.

Without really hitting top-gear, Athlone Town have done enough to carve out a couple of morale-boosting wins in the very early stages of this year's First Division.

A one-goal win over Mervue Utd last weekend followed up on the opening day defeat of league newcomers Salthill Devon, but Athlone's early season hopes will be firmly put to the test when Cork City (Forás Co-Op) - a club founded from the ashes of Cork City FC - visit Lissywoollen this Saturday (7.30pm), This game will be followed by a visit to the Brandywell to face Derry City, two games which should give a clearer indication as to Athlone's genuine aspirations for the rest of the season. Sandwiched in between those league games is a EA Sports League Cup first round tie against Longford Town (Monday, March 22, 7.30pm).

Goalkeeper and newly-appointed captain Chris Bennion, whose form has been excellent since signing from Dundalk, acknowledges Saturday's game will be Athlone's biggest test so far this season. But he also pointed out that Cork is a club in the very early stages of getting its house in order, and must not be feared by a new-look Athlone.

"I think we have to be happy enough with the start we've made. There's a lot of new players at the club but we've got off to a decent start with wins over Salthill and Mervue. Nobody is getting excited at this stage but we've given ourselves a platform on which to build," said Bennion.

"Cork City are going to be difficult opposition and there's no easy or comfortable games in this division. You have to make sure you stay tight and well organised at the back. We always have a good chance of creating chances and scoring goals with the strikers we have. Cork are bound to have two or three experienced players but will also have a lot of young, lesser experienced players in the side. Hopefully, we can get another good result and keep heading in the right direction. We want to establish ourselves in the top half from an early stage and hopefully build upon that," said Bennion.

Athlone, though, will have to cope without new midfielder Stephen Caffrey, who was sent off late on during last weekend's win over Mervue Utd, and is now suspended.

However, Cork also have to deal without one of their most important and experienced players in Greg O'Halloran, who is also suspended after getting sent off in last weekend's 2-0 loss at home to Waterford Utd.

Caffrey's central midfield role is likely to go to Robbie Benson but Kevin Dunne, who has now shaken off an ankle injury picked up during a half-time warm-up against Salthill, could also come into the reckoning.

Even though Cork have spent countless years in the Premier Division, and regularly competed in Europe in recent years, their squad is now a shadow of the Cork City panel of recent times.

The likes of Dave Rogers, Cathal Lordan, Shane Duggan, and front-pairing Davin O'Neill and Graham Cummins, can cause problems at this level, while Mark McNulty is regarded as a good young goalkeeper, who gained plenty of Premier Division experience last season. Dave Warren, who has impressed in recent years for Cobh Ramblers and Waterford Utd, also recently signed for Tommy Dunne's side and could come into the side on Saturday.