Can athlone town complete the great escape

TONIGHT is do or die time for Athlone Town in their bid to avoid relegation from the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.

Athlone entertain Bray Wanderers in the final game of the season at Lissywollen on Friday night (7.45pm), knowing they must better the result of UCD - who play against Drogheda Utd in the Belfield Bowl at the same time - to avoid finishing bottom of the pile and suffering relegation. Athlone are just one point behind UCD. The team that finishes second from bottom will face a promotion-relegation play-off next week.

Athlone will be without the suspended Kaelan Dillon and Brian Shortall but Mark Hughes could be available following injury. Athlone are unlikely to make many changes from the side which won, 0-2, against St Patrick’s Athletic last weekend thanks to goals by top-scorer Philly Gorman and the aforementioned Dillon. Tonight’s match is likely to come too soon for the return of attacker John Mulroy, who is making progress from his ankle injury but unlikely to return yet.

Athlone must, firstly, get their own job done and get a positive result against Bray. Ideally, they will achieve a win and maximum points, which would mean UCD also need to win to stay up. If Athlone better the Students’ result, they will finish second from bottom and enter the promotion-relegation play-off against either Galway or Shelbourne. Galway currently hold a 2-0 advantage over Shelbourne going into tonight’s First Division play-off at Tolka Park.

Meanwhile, speaking to www.droghedaunited.ie, Drogheda manager Damien Richardson had some reassuring words for Athlone fans worried about his team’s desire for tonight’s match against UCD.

Both sides hold victories over the other in 2014 as UCD ran out 2-1 winners when the sides met at Belfield back in May while Drogheda comfortably disposed of the Students 4-0 a couple of months ago in Richardson’s first game in charge and the Drogheda manager is hoping for a repeat performance.

“I have no doubt that we will be as motivated as UCD. I think this Drogheda side has a great honesty and desire to represent the club to the highest degree. It is a huge game for UCD and we owe it to the league and to our fans to put our best side out and get a result. We will be doing our very best to finish the season off with three points.”

Mick Daly, Daire Doyle and Cathal Brady are all doubtful for Drogheda due to injury, while Gavin Brennan will miss out as he serves the third game of a five-match ban. Dylan Connolly will make only his second league start for United in goal with former Athlone goalkeeper Michael Schlingermann unavailable. One of Connolly’s two appearances in goal for Drogheda was during United’s heavy 6-0 defeat to Athlone earlier in the season. Conspiring to see his home town team relegated will be Athlone native Robbie Benson, the former Town player who captains the UCD side.

The first leg of the promotion-relegation play-off will take place next Monday, October 27, with the Premier Division side having home advantage in the first leg. The second leg will see the First Division team at home this day next week.