League Preview: UCD -v- Athlone Town

• Gareth O'Reilly
• Sun, Aug 16 2015




UCD take on Athlone Town in Belfield on Monday night hoping to use of their two games in hand to their advantage as they continue to chase Wexford Youths and Finn Harps at the top of the First Division table. Kick-off is pencilled in for 7:45pm.

 

UCD

Collie O’Neill’s men recorded a commanding victory against Cobh Ramblers last Friday night thanks to three second half goals, two of which came through captain Robbie Benson.

 

Despite the final result clearly showing a dominant performance by the home side, in the first half the College really struggled to break down a Cobh side that were content to sit back with ten men behind the ball and invite the Boys in Blue onto them for large parts of the game – something O’Neill was keen to remark following the final whistle.

 

“Overall we played well again, we were probably taking too many touches of the ball in the first half but we increased the tempo in the second and it ended up been a ruthless performance with another clean sheet which was pleasing to see. With the sides around us all winning it was an important result for us, and our attention now turns to Monday against Athlone.”

 

The two games UCD have in hand are set to prove crucial in the final run in and the man in the hot seat in the UCD Bowl knows this all too well as Athlone and Wexford are those two teams.

 

“It’s better to have points on the board than games in hand, however now is our chance to close that gap so it is important we put in another good performance and look to win the game to keep the pressure on Wexford.”

 

In terms of team news it is just Greg Sloggett and Jamie Doyle who miss out through injury while Tomas Boyle, who left the field on Friday night just before the half hour mark, is set to have to prove his fitness though a late fitness test although with the ever impressive Maxi Kouogun as his back up that won’t be of too much concern for the UCD management.

 

ATHLONE TOWN

Athlone enter this fixture with a point to prove having suffered a humiliating defeat last Friday night at the hands of First Division basement side Waterford United.

 

The previous week they lost to Cabinteely while their two previous First Division fixtures saw them pick up four points against the top two ranked sides win the league. With this game against the College marking the first in three straight away games, including the FAI Cup fixture next Friday night against Sheriff YC, the pressure is really on Alan Matthews to start turning results around.

 

No team news was available from Athlone for this one but the general consensus when heading into this one must be that the Town have an uphill battle if they are to salvage any points from this game, as clearly a lot has changed since the last time these two met in the UCD Bowl back in March – on that occasion Athlone recorded a 2-1 victory, which turned out to be the last league win for a visiting team at the UCD Bowl.

 

Referee: Sean Grant

 

MATCH FACTS

UCD have not beaten Athlone yet this season in two attempts with the Midlanders even managing to beat the Students back in March.

 

UCD’s top league goalscorer is Ryan Swan with eleven goals while Athlone’s top marksman is Philly Gorman with nine.

 

The last time Robbie Benson failed to score in the league for UCD was at the end of June.

 

BETTING

UCD 2/5; Draw 16/5; Athlone 6/1.

 

PREDICTION

UCD 3-0 Athlone Town.

 

UCD

Injured: Greg Sloggett (groin), Jamie Doyle (hamstring).

Doubtful: Tomas Boyle (knee).

Suspended: None.

 

Athlone Town

Injured: Unknown.

Doubtful: Unknown.

Suspended: Derek Doyle.