Wasteful Athlone pay the price as defeat means they remain close to the bottom

ATHLONE Town have once again been sucked deep into relegation trouble following a frustrating defeat to bottom placed Kildare County at Station Road last Friday. The Town went into this important basement battle five points ahead of Kildare but with a game more played and knew that a rare away victory would go a long way to confirming League of Ireland status for next season. However, the main story of the game proved to be Athlone"s total wastefulness in front of goal. After falling behind to Colin Osbourne"s 21st minute strike, Athlone completely dominated proceedings and managed to create chance after chance. But they failed to find the back of the Kildare net thanks to a combination of superb goalkeeping from Austin O"Neill and some equally disappointing finishing from a large collection of Athlone players. Midfielder Colm Jinks was Athlone"s brightest player on the night and was one of the unlucky ones to be denied by the superb O"Neill. But there was also some pretty disappointing finishing from Athlone - most notably from the otherwise productive Carmine Russo who somehow contrived to miss a golden opportunity from three yards early in the second half. Substitutes Jason McCartney, Johnny Mernagh and David O"Dowd, as well as Noel McGee and Philip Reilly, also spurned perfectly good chances, as Athlone eventually left Station Road with nothing to show for their efforts. Realistically, Athlone must be capable of beating a ragged Kildare outfit, who have lost 15 games and conceded a staggering 50 goals so far this season. The Thoroughbreds had also failed to claim a home win since last May. With Kildare resorting to desperation football after taking the lead, Athlone carved out enough chances to beat their hosts by at least two or three goals. To make matters worse for Athlone, Kildare were missing two of their most important players, with former Town stalwart Colin Fortune and forward Ciaran Kilduff both suspended. Athlone made a single change from the side which drew 1-1 with Midlands rivals Longford Town. Right back Ian Rossiter missed out with a knee injury, so 19-year-old Declan Fallon came in for his second start for the club and performed very capably throughout. It was a strange feeling for Athlone supporters after the game. Although their team had lost to one of the most limited sides the First Division has seen in recent years, it was hard to fault many of the players for their effort and level of general play. Ultimately though, you must kill or be killed - and Athlone"s disastrous attempts in front of goal were simply not good enough. And they were made pay as Colin Osbourne"s first-half strike proved the only goal of the game. Athlone"s profligacy in front of goal began after just six minutes. Eric Lavine nodded the ball through to Noel McGee but he shot too close to Austin O"Neill. Declan Fallon did well to divert the ball clear as Kildare"s robust striker Ger Robinson tried to slot Orrin Farrelly through on goal, before Noel McGee required treatment for what initially looked like a hamstring strain. McGee was fine to carry on, though, after some intensive treatment from physio Gerry Joyce. Struggling Kildare took the lead against the run of play on 21 minutes. Robbie Hamm, who had another fine outing at left back, was forced to concede a corner kick and when Athlone failed to deal with Cathal Brady"s right sided delivery, Colin Osbourne latched onto the loose ball and drilled a low shot through a crowded penalty area and into the middle of the goal. Athlone reacted well though, with local trio Declan Fallon, Noel McGee and Carmine Russo manufacturing a chance for Joey Maloney but his volley was saved by Austin O"Neill. Shortly afterwards, Robbie Hamm"s cross was headed to the net by Colm Jinks but the lively midfielder"s effort was correctly deemed to be offside. Kildare"s defence looked extremely shaky and centre half Glen Walsh received the game"s first booking on 31 minutes for pulling Eric Lavine to the ground on the edge of the County penalty area. Carmine Russo struck a glorious free kick but Austin O"Neill did brilliantly to claw the ball around the post. O"Neill also did well to fist clear the resulting corner kick by Joey Maloney. Declan Fallon then got forward and crossed well but Noel McGee"s diving header drifted wide. Athlone"s Nigel Keady received a booking for fouling Cathal Brady before half-time, while Kildare"s Colin Osbourne was also yellow carded within seconds of the restart. Dermot Lennon made two changes at the interval, with Eric Lavine and Joey Maloney making way for Jason McCartney and Johnny Mernagh. The changes injected a bit more pace into Athlone"s attack but the second half proved an intensely frustrating period for the away side. Firstly, Noel McGee"s lovely through ball put Johnny Mernagh clear on goal but a wrong offside flag denied the pacy striker. Jason McCartney then tore through Kildare"s rearguard and crossed well from the endline. Carmine Russo looked certain to convert from close range but somehow miskicked and put the ball wide from just three yards. Athlone"s frustration was growing. Johnny Mernagh ripped through Kildare"s sluggish defence but shot poorly wide when he should have netted. Colm Jinks was next to bring the best out of Austin O"Neill but Athlone couldn"t find a way through. During a rare Kildare breakaway, Robbie Hamm blocked well from Ger Robinson"s close range shot. Philip Reilly became the fourth player to be booked for a crude lunge at Barry Slattery. Noel McGee then cleverly won a free kick just outside the Kildare box - but Jason McCartney shot way over in disappointing fashion. Ger Robinson was yellow carded for diving in the Athlone area, before Jason McCartney again failed to hit the target after more decent work by McGee. On 74 minutes, Mernagh"s blistering pace took him to the endline and his terrific cross to the back post set up McGee, who looked odds-on to convert from just six yards. But his decent header was well blocked by the outstanding O"Neill. The Kildare "keeper then managed to punch clear a dangerous in-swinging corner by McCartney, despite seeming to be pushed by Noel McGee. On 81 minutes, Athlone looked certain to net. Colm Jinks stood up a lovely backpost cross but Noel McGee and Philip Reilly got in each other"s way and Reilly eventually headed wide. McCartney then delivered a brilliant cross in the 88th minute but Jinks" fine header was touched over the crossbar by O"Neill. David O"Dowd was also presented with a super chance to equalise in stoppage time but a dreadful first touch gave Paul Donnelly a chance to clear the danger. Nigel Keady then blazed well over the crossbar after a neat cross by McGee - but Athlone had run out of time and chances. Kildare County: Austin O"Neill; David Vickery; Baba Issaka; Glen Walsh; Colin Osbourne; Barry Slattery; Paul Donnelly; Cathal Brady; Ger Robinson; Philip Hughes; Orrin Farrelly. Subs: David O"Connell for Vickery (55 mins); Trevor Bowers for Hughes (60). Athlone Town: Ciaran Kelly; Declan Fallon; Robbie Hamm; Des Hope; Nigel Keady; Colm Jinks; Philip Reilly; Carmine Russo; Eric Lavine; Noel McGee; Joey Maloney. Subs: Johnny Mernagh for Lavine (45 mins); Jason McCartney for Maloney (45); David O"Dowd for Fallon (77). Referee: Padraig Sutton.