City stung again in the Midlands

By Donncha Noonan | Photo: Kevin Barry Dorney 

In the midst of an inconsistent spell of form coming off the back of a 2-1 loss away to Longford last week, City were looking for redemption as they returned to the Midlands, this time to face playoff chasing Athlone Town. It was an identical result for the League Champions, as they fell to a 2-1 loss.

Barry Robson went with three changes from the team that faced Longford. Greg Bolger, Josh Fitzpatrick and Niall O’Keeffe all returned to the eleven, coming in for Hans Mpongo, Joe Aidoo and Matthew Murray.

Sean O’Connor made just the one change from his side’s 3-3 draw with Cobh Ramblers, as Robert Lyons came in for Sean Brennan.

It was just six minutes in when the deadlock was broken, and it was via the hosts. Robert Lyons was denied one-on-one by David Odumosu, with the City clearance only going as far as Brian McManus at the edge of the box. McManus bettled through bodies before laying the ball off to Will Smith, who drove a low shot into the bottom left corner to give his side the lead.

City had the majority of the ball, and with that almost bit back with an equaliser three minutes later. Greg Bolger slid a quick free kick into the path of a running Seani Maguire who ended up facing the goalkeeper, but the City striker’s low shot was well saved by Brendan Clarke.

City’s possession did pay off eventually, as the visitors equalised on the thirty-third minute. A Greg Bolger and Rory Feely one-two on the right hand side allowed the latter to swing a deep cross into the box that missed the run of Ruairi Keating, but found that of Seani Maguire who buried a first time shot into the back of the net to level the game up.

That leveller only lasted five minutes though, as Athlone were quick to retake their lead in some style. Gradi Lomboto received the ball out on the left wing and slipped a nice ball into Robert Lyons in the box with his back to goal. He saw the oncoming Callum Cleary at the edge of the box and laid the ball off to him, where Cleary hit a sweet strike that flew into the bottom right corner.

That was that for the first half, as a very familiar storyline was playing out for City, being a goal down despite having the lion’s share of the ball.

City began the second half slightly slower and went to make a multitude of changes, something that seemed to give Athlone a slight boost, and could’ve doubled their advantage in the sixty-seventh minute. Athlone moved forward at a dynamic pace, with the attack hitting its crescendo as it came to Gradi Lomboto out wide, who cut in and rifle a shot that just rose over the City goal.

City rallied late to try and salvage the game, and it was a substitute who had a great chance to do just that with ten minutes to play. Joe Aidoo lofted a delivery from a free-kick towards the back post where it hung up for Denzel Obenge to get a header on it, but his effort was in just the right spot for Brendan Clarke to claim it.

The visitors had one final go at it in additional time, where the chance just slithered wide. Brody Lee received the ball down the right wing and found the channel run of Seani Maguire. He played the ball back across the box, where the incoming Darragh Crowley reached it and tried to guide the ball into the bottom right corner, but couldn't connect cleanly and shanked the ball wide of the mark.

And that was all she wrote, as City fell to an all too familiar fate as last week, with a 2-1 loss in the Midlands. Credit has to go to Athlone, who turned up and performed very well on the night, incredibly well set up and good on the ball, stringing some brilliant bits of play together. From City, they just weren’t useful enough with the ball. Didn’t really create many good chances that could be used to drag themselves level, especially in the second half. I thought Brody Lee was quite positive in what was otherwise a fairly uneventful one for City.

My Man of the Match goes to Gradi Lomboto. It was more of a  team effort from Athlone for this win, but I think Lomboto was the standout of the side from an Athlone point of view. He got down the right wing multiple times and caused serious problems for the City defence, using his quick feet to create danger.

City return to the Cross next week to be crowned with their trophy at home to Finn Harps on Friday. As for Athlone, they’ll continue their march towards the playoffs as they take on Treaty at home.