Preview: Athlone Town v Shelbourne

Friday 12th October 2007, 2:01 am

12th October 2007

eircom League of Ireland First Division

Athlone Town
v
Shelbourne

Venue : Lissywoollen

Referee : Rob Rogers

Kick-off : 7:45 PM

Shelbourne will continue their push for a fourth place finish in the First Division of the League of Ireland. On Friday night they travel to face Athlone Town in Lissywoollen.

Athlone are seventh but could move sixth with a win.

So far, the three meetings between the clubs have ended in home wins with the away team not scoring. Shels won 1-0 and 2-0 while Athlone secured a 1-0 home win in June with Shels finishing that game with just nine men.

Athlone lost 2-1 at home to Dundalk last weekend while Shels played out a disappointing 0-0 draw with Kilkenny City at Tolka Park.

Team news

Athlone Town

Ian Rossiter returns from suspension.

Shelbourne

Glen Lacey, Jim Crawford and James Hussey all miss out injured.

Lacey and Crawford are suffering from hamstring and groin injuries respectively while Hussey is set to miss a number of weeks out after "an unfortunate accident at home".

James Chambers and Marc McCulloch are both major doubts having missed the week's training because of flu. Alan Keely could feature after returning to training following an ankle injury.

Alan Murphy won't travel for personal reasons.

Form

Athlone Town

Last 6 games: L D W L W L

Shelbourne

Last 6 games: D L W L W W

Previous meetings

3rd August 2007 - eircom League of Ireland First Division

Shelbourne 2-0 Athlone Town

2nd June 2007 - eircom League of Ireland First Division

Athlone Town 1-0 Shelbourne

6th April 2007 - eircom League of Ireland First Division

Shelbourne 1-0 Athlone Town

Prediction

Away win. Anything seems possible in this game although Shels have been the better side in recent weeks.

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