Singleton seals victory as Athlone go three points clear

Peamount United 0 Athlone Town 2

By Darryl Geraghty

Athlone Town showed their class to restore their three-point lead at the top of the Women’s Premier Division by overcoming Alban Hysa’s new look and spirited Peamount United side at Greenogue Park on Wednesday night.

Shelbourne’s hard fought win 24 hours previously put the pressure on Lily Agg’s side as their title rivals went level on points albeit temporarily, but just like they have in their previous two meetings with the Peas this season it was the Town who emerged 2-0 victors thanks to a Mary Phillips own goal and a brilliantly controlled finish from Chloe Singleton late in the second half.

The victory leaves Athlone three points ahead of second-placed Shels and with a game in hand, while Galway United are seven points adrift of the Town, having played a game less.

Making a bright start, and looking to use the youthful exuberance of Mia McGonnell and Mia Gaff in attack, Peamount signalled their intent when both combined well early on with the former delivering a dangerous cross from the right just over her fellow forward's head.

This seemed to spring the visitors to life who went agonisingly close to opening the scoring moments later. The enigmatic Noelle Murray delivered an inch perfect cross which found marauding left-back Phoebe Hampson, who saw her header come off the top of the crossbar.

Minutes later, the previous Saturday's match winner in the five goal thriller against Sligo Rovers, Alexis Strickland, found herself clear through on goal from yet another exquisite Murray pass. But to her credit Summer Lawless stood big to deny the American striker, who shot straight at one of the league's best stoppers.

Following a middle third tussle in which both sides worked relentlessly to cancel each other out, the Peas spurned a glorious chance of their own when Lucy O’Rourke’s free kick deep on the left, found Carlie Sinnott with a yard of space in the area but the centre-back couldn’t generate enough power on the header to trouble Maria Matthaiou.

Having been let off the hook, the back-to-back champions took advantage of a set piece of their own. Skipper Hannah Waesch swung in a dangerous ball from the left and in a crowded area, it seemed as if player-of-the-match Melissa O’Kane got the last touch on the ball past Lawless, but the goal was eventually given as an own goal, with former Athlone player Phillips getting the last touch when doing her utmost to scramble the ball away from danger.

With just the one goal in it, the threat of Peamount looking to get behind remained, making it slightly uncomfortable for the visitors. But as the game ticked over the hour mark the home side just failed to find the crucial final pass to get Mia Gaff in on goal as Matthaiou remained untroubled.

Moments after her introduction, Millie Daly tried to change things, showing great strength to hold off a couple of challenges and from the edge of the box saw her curling effort brilliantly turned away by the Cypriot stopper.

Having weathered the storm, Athlone showed why they are champions as their squad depth paid dividends again. The midlanders sealed all three points when substitute Chloe Singleton was on hand to smash home a volley from close range, following Molloy's cross from the right that wasn’t dealt with initially.

For Lily Agg and her charges, the full focus now shifts to a mouthwatering semi-final clash with Galway United tomorrow night (Saturday) as Athlone look to defend their FAI Cup crown.

Peamount United: Summer Lawless; Meabh Russell, Katie Lovely, Abbie Tuthill, Lucy O’Rourke; Mia McGonnell, Carlie Sinnott, Mary Phillips, Sophie Byrne, Aoife O’Connor; Mia Gaff. Subs: Eleanor Ryan-Doyle for O’Connor (55 mins); Freya Healy and Millie Daly for Gaff and Byrne (67); Robin Baird for Russell (83).

Athlone Town: Maria Matthaiou; Phoebe Hampson, Michaela Hand, Sofia Stovold, Kelis Barton, Michaela Hand; Melissa O’Kane, Hannah Waesch; Roisin Molloy, Noelle Murray, Izzy Ryan; Alexis Strickland. Subs: Chloe Singleton and Hazel Donegan for Strickland and Murray (67 mins); Shauna Brennan for Hand (81); Emma Mooney and Kerryanne Brown for Waesch and O’Kane (90+1).

Referee: Ryan Maher.