Champions Athlone Town seek first league win after disappointing opening day stalemate

Women’s Premier Division champions Athlone Town dropped two points in their opening game of the season as they were held to a 1-1 draw with Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds on Saturday night.

In a performance that manager John Sullivan described as “not good enough”, back to back league champions Athlone could only manage a draw against a new look Sligo side.

The Town will be very keen to return to winning ways this coming Saturday when facing DLR Waves in their first home league game of the campaign (Athlone Town Stadium, 6pm). However, manager Sullivan was clearly unhappy with the team's surprising drop in performance at the Showgrounds, as he pointed out following the draw,

“It’s a point, no matter what way you look at it, it’s a point. Even if we had won the game, I still wouldn’t have been satisfied, to be honest," he said.

“The behaviours and what we were looking for pre-game, during the game, just didn’t see it. It’s not good enough on our behalf. The group know that, they’re not happy. Not just from myself. They have standards, we didn’t live up to them today,” added the Athlone boss.

Former golden boot winner Dana Scheriff, in her second spell with the club, found the net after 55 minutes with her first league goal of the season, after she earned her side the President’s Cup with that 1-0 win over Shelbourne on the previous Sunday.

But the visitors failed to capitalise after they went ahead, and Sligo were back on level terms 14 minutes later when Emma Hansberry’s free kick from distance was completely missed by everyone, bouncing into the net past Maria Matthaiou.

Sullivan was without key attacker Madison Gibson, while Noelle Murray was also unavailable for this tie, with Sullivan confirming afterwards that both players would return to training this week. Aimee Neal, who signed from Shamrock Rovers, also missed the league opener.

Sullivan’s frustrations were understandable given the standard that his side have set in the league over the last two seasons, but it is worth noting that Athlone were coming up against a Sligo side with a renewed energy.

New manager Gavin Hughes, who took over from Steve Feeney, has given the Bit O’Red a new lease of life after he joined from Bohemians under-19s.

He’s not the only new face in the door, with six players joining from the US, two from Bohemians’ underage system and Emma Duffy signing from Galway. And Athlone found out quickly last Saturday that they were anything but a pushover.

Athlone's Roisin Molloy dragged a shot wide after three minutes, but it was the hosts who had the better chances early on. Cyprus international Matthaiou was forced into two good saves as American duo Cara Jordan and Ella Karolak tried to open the scoring.

The sides went in level after a competitive and physical opening half, a game that kept the crowd of 450 entertained.

And it was much of the same in the second half.

Paula McGrory’s shot five minutes into the second period was comfortably gathered by Matthaiou and, five minutes later, Athlone went ahead.

A superb ball out to the right from Melissa O’Kane found the run of Isobel Ryan. Ryan sent her cross perfectly into the path of Scheriff, and the American bundled it over the line despite pressure from Bonnie McKiernan in the Sligo goals.

That lead lasted 14 minutes as Sligo pulled level, a goal that Athlone will not want to see back. Team captain Hansberry’s free kick from distance took a bounce in the box, was missed by Natalie McNally and goalkeeper Matthaiou, and ended up in the bottom corner.

It was no more than Sligo deserved, though McKiernan had to play her part with a couple of excellent saves late on. But the save of the day was from Athlone keeper Matthaiou with four minutes to go.

Cara Jordan’s cross was nodded on in excellent fashion by McGrory, but the outstretched hand of the Cypriot somehow got to it, palming it away - a save certainly worth watching back.

Molloy tried to find a winner late on, but she pulled her shot wide on 90 minutes as Athlone desperately went in search of a second goal. And while the visitors were visibly disappointed at full-time, there was cause for celebration for the home side who picked up a valuable point with what could be seen as a statement draw.

Athlone Town (v Sligo Rovers): Maria Matthaiou, Kellie Brennan, Kayleigh Shine, Shauna Brennan, Natalie McNally, Hannah Waesch, Dana Scheriff, Roisin Molloy, Isabel Ryan, Emma Mooney, Melissa O’Kane. Subs: Alexis Strickland for Ryan (65 mins); Hazel Donegan for O’Kane (65).

Referee: Arnie Hunter.