Published: Wednesday, 4th August, 2010 5:00pm

Schlingermann saves prove vital as Town claim a point

by Kevin O'Neill

Athlone Town 1 Waterford Utd 1

A top-class performance by goalkeeper Michael Schlingermann ensured Athlone Town earned a hard-fought but fortunate share of the spoils against second-placed Waterford Utd at Lissywoollen last Thursday evening.

A huge big-top tent had been erected on Athlone's adjoining training pitch for the weekend's upcoming Athlone Music Festival.

But there was no clowning around by Schlingermann, as the 19-year-old former Mayo minor 'keeper produced an outstanding display to keep Athlone in the game.

Schlingermann, who only recently broke into the Town side after Chris Bennion's departure to St Pat's, made a handful of excellent stops, with the highlights coming during a first half dominated completely by the visitors.

Ultimately, the young netminder could do little to deny Willie John Kiely a 53rd minute opener, but Athlone replied against the run of play when Paddy Collins prodded home from close range.

Athlone's failure to pick up three points takes their winless streak to seven league matches and it's also eight years since the Town defeated Waterford, although that eleven-game sequence (during which Waterford spent three years in the top flight) now includes seven draws.

In front of Athlone's lowest crowd of the season (155), Schlingermann produced save after save during a difficult opening half for the Town.

He was first called into action on 19 minutes when he brilliantly finger-tipped a rasping effort from Paul Murphy over the crossbar.

Prior to that, Waterford had created several half-chances, but Timmy Purcell headed wide from John Kearney's cross, while moments of good defending by Paddy Collins and midfielder Ryan McEvoy disrupted good attacks by Stephen Henderson's side.

Waterford were dominant in midfield from an early stage, as Athlone's central players, Denis Moran and McEvoy, struggled to get to grips with John Kearney and Shane Barrett.

Athlone were defending too deep at this point and having major problems retaining quality possession, with strikers Austin Skelly and Gordon Watson starved of decent service throughout most of the contest.

Top-scorer Skelly was returning to the side after suspension, taking Jason Hughes' place, while birthday-boy Brian McCarthy was absent from the match-day squad due to illness.

Niall Scullion and Mark Nolan were serving suspensions, while Declan O'Brien's registration saga continued, leaving the former Drogheda Utd striker unable to make his debut yet again.

Brendan Place did hand out one competitive debut, with former Limerick defender Wayne Colbert starting at right-back.

Colbert had a somewhat nervy Athlone debut, while referee Paul McLoughlin officiated in frustrating fashion during the opening moments, meaning the game was a stop-start affair during the opening half.

Athlone could have taken the lead against the run of play in the 29th minute when Skelly set up Shane Fitzgerald, but the newly signed winger shot too close to Kevin Burns.

Waterford quickly regained the upper hand and a breakthrough goal for the Blues seemed inevitable.

The hugely impressive Murphy, who played with Wexford Youths last season, was unlucky to miss the target with a sensationally volley from 30 yards in the 33rd minute.

Athlone only half-cleared a corner kick and the ball looped out of the sky for Murphy, who was some distance from goal. However, he showed tremendous technique to catch the ball sweetly and luckily for Athlone, the ball rose just over Schlingermann's despairing dive, and the crossbar, too.

The excellent Murphy was then set up by striker partner Kiely, but this time Schlingermann pawed his effort away to safety in competent fashion.

Defender Kevin Murray flashed a header across the face of the Athlone goal, following a corner kick by John Kearney, before Skelly's brief sight of goal was blocked off by Murray.

On 42 minutes, Schlingermann made another fine save, denying John Kearney from close, and Athlone were fortunate to go in scoreless at half-time.

Two minutes after the restart, Schlingermann dived to his left to keep out Purcell's well-struck volley, before Alan Carey sent a great ball across Athlone's six-yard box but nobody connected for an easy tap-in.

Eventually, Waterford's dominance paid off, as they cleared an Athlone corner kick and broke upfield quickly.

John Kearney led the attack, finding Purcell on the right flank, and his low centre was easily dispatched to the net from six yards by Kiely.

Disappointingly for Waterford, they failed to push on and take advantage of Athlone's recent fragile confidence, and slowly Athlone found a way back into the game.

Firstly, Fitzgerald connected well with a strike from just outside the box, but his fine effort crashed into the side-netting.

But with 22 minutes remaining, the Town equalised.

Moran's corner kick went low into the six-yard box, where Des Hope cleverly flicked the ball towards the back post, and fellow defender Collins prodded home from little more than four yards.

A deflected shot from John Kearney, which ricochetted off Kiely, was well held by Schlingermann, while Athlone had a couple of penalty appeals during the final 15 minutes, both somewhat hopeful, which were turned away by referee McLoughlin.

Waterford threw on a couple of extra strikers in the closing minutes, as Athlone supporters feared another late collapse.

The Town did retreat and looked nervous during the dying minutes, which included four minutes additional time, but this time (unlike against Wexford the previous week) they held firm for a good point.

Meanwhile, Athlone are thought to be close to signing St Pat's forward Andy Haran, who had a successful loan spell in the First Division with Monaghan Utd last season, while it's also hoped Declan O'Brien's registration will finally come through from Malta for Friday's visit to Limerick.

ATHLONE TOWN: Michael Schlingermann; Wayne Colbert, Eoghan O'Shea, Des Hope, Paddy Collins, Denis Moran, Richie O'Hanlon, Ryan McEvoy, Austin Skelly, Gordon Watson, Shane Fitzgerald. Subs: Jason Hughes for O'Hanlon (63 mins), Kevin Williamson for Fitzgerald (78).

WATERFORD UTD: Kevin Burns; Alan Carey, Michael Coady, Kevin Murray, Seamus Long, John Kearney, Timmy Purcell, Shane Barrett, Paul Murphy, Willie John Kiely, Liam Kearney. Subs: James O'Sullivan for Purcell (85 mins), Kevin Waters for L Kearney (87), Gary Keane for Barrett (91).

REFEREE: Paul McLoughlin.

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