Athlone defeat Kerry FC to seal their place in fourth position

TOUGH NIGHT: Athlone Town got the better of Kerry FC and consolidate their position in fourth place. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

LOI Division 1

ATHLONE TOWN 2 KERRY FC 1 

Athlone Town consolidated their position in fourth place when they edged out bottom club Kerry FC.

Athlone opened the scoring with 6 minutes played. Jamar Campion-Hinds sent in a cross from the right. Frantz Pierrot made it goal number twenty for the season when he found the net from inside the six yard box. The number nine had a chance to score again 5 minutes later from a similar position but toe poked wide this time. 

Kerry keeper Lee Axworthy did well on the half hour mark to tip over a long range strike from Oisin Duffy as Athlone pressed hard for a second score. Having been under pressure for most of the half, the visitors grabbed a life line when equalising 10 minutes from the break. Leo Gaxha cut in from the left to unleash a volley which flew into the net off the post. Axworthy ensured Kerry would head off on level terms when he denied Campion-Hinds and Valerii Dolia.

The hosts had further chances when play resumed. Dylan Gavin, Dolia and Pierrot all had opportunities to score up to the hour mark. Dolia was off target with two further chances as Kerry kept Athlone at bay. 

The resistance was finally broken after 77 minutes. A corner kick from Dolia was cleared but the home number ten regained possession to cross into the six yard box. Gavin arrived to fire to the net from close range for his first home goal since joining from Charlton Athletic. 

There was no response from Kerry in the closing stages as they failed to replicate their only league win to date gained earlier in the campaign in Athlone. A Gavin free which went over and a stoppage time corner were the last chances for Athlone to score a third.

Athlone Town: Minogue, Fuentes Rodriguez, Kavanagh (Peprah H/T), VanGeenen, McKenna, Hickey, Pierrot, Dolia (McGlone 78), Gavin (Lamtoukou 90), Duffy (Curtin 87), Campion-Hinds.

Kerry FC: Axworthy, O'Connell, Kos (Amechi H/T), McGrath, Kelliher (Ainscough 84), Gaxha, Kennedy (Vasiu 16), Williams, Aladesanusi, Okwute, Teahan (Brosnan 84).

Referee: D Carolan (Louth)