Willow desperate to return to winning ways against Clara Town

WILLOW Park have a chance to return to winning ways tonight (Wednesday) when they contest a potentially critical Combined Counties League Senior Division match against Clara Town (Stanley O’Hara Park, Clara, 6.45pm).

The Athlone side suffered a shock defeat to second tier CK Utd in the semi-finals of the Combined Counties Cup last weekend, and need three points from tonight’s fixture to draw level with Mullingar Athletic at the top of the Senior Division.

Willow Park have won the last five Senior Division titles and if they are to win tonight, they would be level with Athletic with three games remaining. Interestingly, Willow must play Athletic at home before the end of the season.

Before then, Willow must focus on recovering from last weekend’s surprising 2-1 defeat to CK Utd and then their Paddy Cotter Cup semi-final against Rosenallis on Sunday in Birr (2pm).

The meeting of Willow and Rosenallis on Sunday will be the second time in as many days for the two clubs to cross swords, with both clubs under-17 teams set to contest the CCFL Ita Farrell U17 Cup Final in Roscrea on Saturday (2.30pm).

Mullingar Athletic, meanwhile, are in Senior League action this Saturday evening when they travel to Roscrea to face Killavilla Utd.

Next Wednesday, Willow’s bid for the league title will go under further scrutiny when they face near neighbours Melville Utd (themselves fighting for survival in the division) at Sarsfield Park, Athlone (6.45pm).

Melville are currently one point behind Mountmellick Utd in the race to avoid relegation (along with the already relegated Gallen Utd). For a full report on Willow Park’s league victory against local rivals St Peter’s last midweek, see this week’s edition of the Westmeath Independent.