Athlone Town Game

[The Chief]

This is a must win game for County against Athlone town F.C.

The Thoroughbred supporters are restless and despite a couple of unlucky defeats are anxious we open our League account. Unlucky or not in the league so far defensive errors have cost us and changes are happening behind the scenes. The introduction of Tommy Dunne from Shamrock Rovers will hopefully tighten up a shaky defense lacking in confidence at the moment.

The tension can be felt from the management to the supporters club that a result is all important and nobody is taking anything from the 3 - 1 victory we had over Athlone in the first Division Cup in Athlone.


Anybody reading this who is a member of an Eircom League supporters club I would be interested in exchanging info with regards the running of the club. Also I would like to know what kind of numbers are travelling from each club to away matches on organised buses.

Here is to a much needed 3 points at Station Road on Saturday evening!!!

[KCFC]

KILDARE County will be striving to reverse their bad early season form with a victory against Athlone Town this Saturday in Station Road.

Two defeats has meant that County have dropped to the bottom of the table, and the Thoroughbred’s will be anxious to get points on the board against an Athlone Town side who have also struggled in the early season period.

Town have conceded 14 goals in their last six games, and their last outing in the League saw them comprehensively beaten by Galway United at St Mel’s Park.

Athlone have ‘gone local’ this year picking the majority of their players from the greater Athlone area in an attempt to garner increased local support and to cut down on costs. It is a brave initiative by the men from St Mel’s Park and many in the League will be looking closely at how they get on this season.

Jimmy Greene has been manager of Athlone Town since April 2002 and this is his first full season in charge of the club. Greene made a number of signings during the summer in an attempt to strengthen an Athlone team who struggled to make an impact last season.

Athlone have found goals hard to come by in recent games and have only found the target four times in the last six games. Despite this, Athlone have shown some flashes of form with a battling 2-2 draw away from home against Waterford United in the League.

Athlone’s Stephen Kelly - who was brought in during the close season - is the club’s top scorer with four goals.

These teams have already met each other when they clashed in the First Division Cup. Kildare County running out easy winners 3-0.

However since that victory Kildare have gone through a torrid run of form, yet the home side should be good enough to overcome Athlone and finally get their league season up and running.



Venue and Time: Station Road Newbridge 5.30 pm Saturday 14 September.

Recent Form Last Six: County WWLLLL Athlone DLLLDL

Previous Encounters: Athlone Town 0 Kildare County 3 (First Division Cup) 2.8.02

League Position: County (12) Athlone (10)

Top Scorers: County; John Ryan 4 Athlone; Stephen Kelly 4

Verdict: Home win.

-DAVID LYNCH