Athlone Town travel to Tolka Park this evening (Friday 29th) looking to build on last Friday night’s first win of the season and in turn push for one of the play-off spots with just 5 points between third and 7th heading into the weekend.
Kick-off is scheduled for 6.45pm.
Heading into this game Athlone and Shelbourne are separated by just 3 points and a win here for the visitors will see the at least jump to joint fifth regardless of other results in the league.
Athlone Town secured their first win of the season last weekend at home to Cabinteely where a March Chindea hat trick secured a 3-1 victory having gone a goal down early in the game.
Last weekend Shelbourne lost out 1-0 away to Cobh Ramblers a game where they played the last 55 mins with just 10 men after Alan Kehoe received a red card. Prior to that game Shelbourne had secured a quarter final place in the EA Sports Cup defeating Bohemian FC 4-3 on penalties. That game was preceded by a 4-1 win away to Waterford United in the RSC.
When the teams met in Athlone Town Stadium earlier this month it was Shelbourne who took home the 3 points winning by a score of 3-1.
One stat shows the entertainment value of games between the sides is that in the last 28 games between 1994 and 2016 only six have ended in draws while only three have remained scoreless the last in April 2010. On the win front it is Shelbourne who head this with 18 wins to Athlone Town’s 4. Over the course of these games have averaged almost 3 goals per game with Shelbourne scoring 56 while Athlone have netted on 27 occasions.
Alan Mathews has no suspensions and at the time of writing there were no injuries to report but he could have a new signing in place before the game which will add some real strength to his match day squad.
Kick off in Tolka Park is scheduled for 6.45pm.