Published: Wednesday, 9th June, 2010 5:00pm

League leaders easily dispose of weak Athlone

Athlone Town 1 Derry City 3

League leaders Derry City strolled to three points against a dreadful Athlone Town at Lissywollen on Tuesday evening, as the First Division prepares to go into a two-week mini-break.

The Candystripes', managed by former Longford boss Stephen Kenny, are the current runaway leaders in the First Division, but couldn't have imagined things been so easy for them at Lissywoollen.

A brace for the lively Mark Farren and a long distance effort by Kevin Deery settled the issue, as Athlone put up absolutely no resistance on a depressing evening for their supporters.

Athlone came into the game on the back of an encouraging away win at Cork City, but never looked likely to trouble Derry, especially with top-scorer Austin Skelly left on the bench.

The only incident of an unentertaining opening half led to Farren's opening goal, with the striker heading home a good cross by the impressive James McClean.

Athlone looked completely ragged, with the midfield showed up as particularly poor.

There was an air of inevitability about Derry's second goal, which arrived in the 60th minute through Deery's long distance drive, but the visitors' didn't even need to move out of first gear all evening.

Farren's second goal of the evening came in the 67th minute, after Derry broke quickly when an Athlone attempt to work a short corner kick collapsed to critical consequences.

Athlone scored against the run of play in the 72nd minute, when Skelly drilled home his fifth goal of the campaign from O'Hanlon's through ball.

But Derry could have added further goals late on through Farren, McClean and substitute Thomas McBride.

Athlone Town: Chris Bennion; Niall Scullion, Eoghan O'Shea, Des Hope, Brian McCarthy. Stephen Caffrey, Richie O'Hanlon, Stephen Place, Shane Dolan, Gordon Watson, Shane O'Connell. Subs: Austin Skelly for Dolan (38 mins), Mark Nolan for Scullion (63), David O'Riordan for O'Connell (76).

Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Eddie McCallion, Emmet Friars, Mark McChrystal, Mark Scoltock, Barry Molloy, Patrick McEleney, Kevin Deery, Mark Farren, Vinny Sweeney, James McClean. Subs: Thomas McBride for Sweeney (75 mins), Darren Cassidy for McClean (83), Adam Clarke for McEleney (90).