Published: Wednesday, 30th June, 2010 5:00pm

Athlone Town let four goal lead slip in dramatic finale

Athlone Town 4 Monaghan Utd 4

IT was the very best and very worst of Athlone Town on Saturday.

Playing football that was hugely enjoyable to watch, Athlone turned the form-book on its head when racing into a four-goal lead by the 65th minute against in-form and fourth placed Monaghan Utd.

During this period, Athlone produced their finest team display of the campaign, as their intricate passing approach carved Monaghan open at will.

It could have perceivably been six or seven for Athlone - but then the unthinkable happened.

With star performers Robbie Benson and Tom O'Halloran forced off through injury, Athlone retreated into their shell, and lost much of the fluidity and quality that shone through for the vast bulk of the game.

Monaghan striker Philip Hughes pulled a goal back from the penalty spot on 71 minutes, but Athlone still looked comfortable, before they somehow leaked three goals in the last 12 minutes (including five minutes of injury time) to finish up with a share of the spoils.

A draw here felt like a painful defeat for Athlone, who earlier in proceedings defied their disappointing form just before the recent two-week break, when generally disjointed performances, and five points from a possible 21, left them eighth in the First Division.

The feel-good factor was back at Lissywoollen during the opening 65 minutes, with a makeshift midfield of the outstanding Stephen Relihan and Niall Scullion capably supported by Kevin Williamson, who prospered in a new central midfield role, and left winger Tom O'Halloran, who offered pace, poise and control on his first start of the campaign.

Robbie Benson, who netted Athlone's opening two goals, played in a deep-lying forward role behind main striker Gordon Watson, and also produced a sparkling display, as Athlone looked confident and controlled in building up what should have been an insurmountable lead.

Ironically, Athlone's best football of the season was played without experienced campaigners like Stephen Caffrey, Brian McCarthy and Austin Skelly, the latter two of whom were serving suspensions.

The younger players really stepped up to the plate and central to this was Stephen Relihan, whose only previous start this season came against Sligo in the FAI Cup.

It's only one game but Relihan showed intelligence and poise that belied his young age and inexperience.

Scullion was also a revelation on the right wing, particularly during the first half, when he set up two goals for Benson, the first of which arrived in the 22nd minute.

Des Hope's crossfield pass picked out Scullion, who soared past marker Anthony Costigan and into the penalty area. Showing great composure, Scullion pulled the ball back for Benson, who was waiting at the edge of the box, and his calmly struck right-footed effort found the roof of the net in precise fashion.

Athlone grew in confidence thereafter and the same two players combined to make it 2-0 on 31 minutes.

Scullion again did brilliantly down the right, again flying past the hapless Costigan, and his pinpoint cross was headed home from close range by Benson.

You might have imagined Athlone getting slightly startled by Monaghan's radical fluorescent yellow shirts, but it was the other way around, as Athlone made light of their recent poor form to produce move after move of free flowing football.

Gordon Watson, yet to find the net for Athlone, had a couple of good chances set up by Benson and Scullion, but his touch and lack of awareness let him down.

The mood in the ground at half-time was further boosted by a breathtaking live performance by the excellent and well-drilled Athlone Ravens Marching Band, who were making their first public appearance at the ground ahead of the defence of their All-Ireland title on Sunday.

Athlone's performance was clear evidence of what can happen if you attack teams in this division, and they picked up where they left off upon the restart.

Benson teed up Watson and this time the young striker found the net to make it 3-0. Watson's effort was slightly scuffed and he even looked mildly embarrassed to celebrate the goal, but hopefully it will provide the young forward with a bit more self-belief and confidence for the coming weeks.

Another great move on 57 minutes, involving Williamson, Watson, Benson and O'Halloran, set up Scullion at the back post, but his effort - and subsequent rebound - were both cleared off the line by Monaghan substitute Shane Grimes.

O'Halloran then skipped past his marker (Conor McMahon) and crossed a great ball into the six-yard box that defender Niall Flynn cleared at the last minute.

But Athlone found a deserved fourth goal on 64 minutes, when Scullion capitalised upon a botched clearance by Monaghan 'keeper Gabriel Sava and rolled the ball into the empty net. A more popular goalscorer there couldn't have been, as Scullion's all-action and committed style was rewarded with his first goal of the season.

Benson seemed to aggravate a long-running ankle problem and was forced to leave the fray on 70 minutes, just as Hughes fired home a penalty for Monaghan, after 'keeper Chris Bennion was adjudged to have fouled substitute Darragh Hanaphy.

O'Halloran had left the fray just before the Monaghan goal, with a lack of game-time probably catching up on the highly promising wideman.

Athlone's fluidity suffered greatly from the two substitutions, as Stephen Place was introduced in the middle of the field, thereby taking Williamson out of an area that he and Relihan had previously controlled.

Although Place and Scullion were unlucky not to add to Athlone's advantage, the capitulation really gathered speed when Alan Byrne headed home Brennan's 83rd minute cross.

Athlone were now rocking and Mark Nolan cleared Hughes' effort off the line.

On 88 minutes, Athlone fell asleep while defending a corner kick, leaving Hanaphy totally unmarked to head home from six yards.

Athlone still as though they had done enough until referee Rob Rogers, who had a poor game, controversially awarded a penalty kick in the fifth minute of injury time, after initially indicating a minimum of three minutes injury time.

Des Hope was harshly punished for a challenge on Brian Gartland, and Hughes converted the penalty to give an out-of-sorts Monaghan an unlikely draw.

ATHLONE TOWN: Chris Bennion; Mark Nolan, Shane O'Connell, Des Hope, Eoghan O'Shea, Stephen Relihan, Niall Scullion, Kevin Williamson, Robbie Benson, Gordon Watson, Tom O'Halloran. Subs: Stephen Place for O'Halloran (66 mins), David O'Riordan for Benson (70), Shane Dolan for Watson (82).

MONAGHAN UTD: Gabriel Sava; Conor McMahon, Anthony Costigan, Aidan Lynch, Niall Flynn, Stephen McCrossan, Aidan Collins, Alan Byrne, Karl Bermingham, Philip Hughes, Sean Brennan. Subs: Shane Grimes for Costigan (45 mins), Darragh Hanaphy for Bermingham (63), Brian Gartland for Lynch (68).

REFEREE: Rob Rogers.

Return to: Homepage | Sport Index | This article