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Athlone defeat Coventry in friendly

Wednesday 20th July 2005, 6:27 pm

by Athlone Town FC
IT was a night to remember for substitute John Guerin, as the Dubliner, who signed for Athlone from junior side Raheny United, scored against Championship side Coventry City in Tuesday night's friendly match in Golden Island Park.

Guerin struck for the only goal of the game in the 63rd minute, finishing off some good work from Stevie Gavin on the right.

Town more than held their own against their more illustrious opponents, with 'keepers Danny O'Leary and Tadhg Murphy mainly only having long range efforts to deal with.

The first few chance of the game fell to Athlone as Damien Rushe put his awkward effort wide from Padraig Moran's flick on header in the first minute. Alan O'Connor volleyed over a minute later after a great ball from midfield from Michael Collins.

The visitors' first chance came on 7 minutes, but Andy Morrell put his effort wide at the near post after the cross came in from the left.

O'Connor played a one-two with Gavin Doyle on the edge of the box, but O'Connor's shot went wide for a corner. Morrell again had City's next chance, this time blasting over from the left side of the box, but his was well covered by Graeme O'Keeffe.

On 29 minutes, Collins played a great through ball to Rushe, but the busy midfielder was dragged down on the edge of the box. The resulting free-kick was rolled to O'Connor whose low shot went just right of the post.

Coventry's next chance of the half came on 32 minutes, when O'Leary could only fist Paul Watson's free-kick. The ball fell to Neil Wood but he put his effort right and wide. They again went close four minutes before the break when Andy Williams caught Rushe in possession, but his cross was headed wide by Matthew Heath.

Moran, Doyle and O'Connor combined beautifully on the stroke of half-time to play in Rushe, but he was ruled offside.

Half-time saw substitutions galore as goalkeeper Clayton Ince was the only survivor on the Coventry side, while Tadhg Murphy, Stevie Gavin, Anthony Hayes, Adrian Carberry and Michael McCann were all introduced for Athlone.

Murphy had a weak shot from Claus Jorgensen to save five minutes in, and three minutes later plucked the ball from air after the cross came in from the right, with players lurking in the box.

Des Hope and John Guerin were introduced for Graeme O'Keeffe and Padraig Moran respectively on 56 minutes, and it wasn't long before Guerin made an impact. Guerin, who scored twice in pre-season against Mullingar Town finished cooly to the far corner after Gavin got the better of Richard Duffy in the left back position. Cue mass celebration as Athlone scored their first home goal since April 8th [albeit in a friendly], when Alan O'Connor scored against Monaghan, though even that goal went down as an own goal in some people's book.

The visitors had a succession of chances with twenty minutes to go. First Murphy saved easily from Jorgensen, before Tom Silke cleared a a lob off the line, and then Murphy plucked another ball from the air from a Coventry corner kick.

John Connellan was introduced for Robbie Hamm on 79 minutes, and the underage international put in a solid performance for his brief time on the pitch, not afraid to tell his senior counterparts what to do.

The visitors only had a number of half chances, long range efforts or crosses cut out, until the 88th minute. Then McSheffrey had his cross tipped over the bar by Murphy, with Dele Adebola heading over from the resulting corner.

Down the other end, Stevie Gavin had one last chance for Athlone but after making a good run down the right, his shot was blocked.

Athlone Town: Danny O'Leary, Robbie Hamm, Alan Kelly, Graeme O'Keeffe, Tom Silke, Gavin Doyle, Damien Rushe, Michael Collins, Alan O'Connor, Padraig Moran, Iarfhlaith Davoren: Subs: Tadhg Murphy for O'Leary [HT], Adrian Carberry for Kelly [HT], Anthony Hayes for Doyle [HT], Steven Gavin for Davoren [HT], Michael McCann for O'Connor [HT], Des Hope for O'Keeffe [56], John Guerin for Moran [56], Riyadh Abdelkader for Rushe [65], John Connellan for Hamm [79].

Coventry City First-Half: Clayton Ince; Paul Watson; Marcus Hall; Richie Powell; Ady Williams; Matthew Heath; Andy Morrell; Stephen Hughes; Stern John; James Scowcroft; Neil Wood.

City second-half: Clayton Ince; Andy Whing; Richard Duffy; Robert Page; Richard Shaw; Claus Jorgensen; Isaac Osbourne; Michael Doyle; Gary McSheffrey; Graham Barrett; Dele Adebola.

Referee: Mark Gough [Limerick]