ATHLONE TOWN WERE relegated back to First Division tonight despite a positive display in a 1-1 draw again Bray at Lissywollen. A first-half red card for Alan Byrne took the wind out of the home team’s sails but the result ended up being irrelevant with UCD beating Drogheda.
An early penalty from Philip Gorman gave Athlone a new lease of life but Dean Zambra’s wonder strike in the second period of play sealed Athlone’s departure from the Premier Division.
Athlone Town pushed for an opener as the game got underway and knew that the result here would filter over to events at UCD. This was the case when they were awarded a penalty with only 20 minutes on the clock, Dave Webster penalised in what seemed to be a hand ball in the area. Philip Gorman stepped up to the spot and converted the effort, lifting Athlone off the bottom of the table.
The battling side sat back on the lead and Bray seemed happy to let them have possession for long periods of play, this was turned on its head however when captain Alan Byrne was shown a second yellow card from a series of unnecessary tackles.
Athlone conceded mid-way through the second-half when Dean Zambra produced a long distance shot which crept into the top corner of the net, rubbing more salt in the home side’s wounds.
The Town pressed for a winner but events at UCD were visible from the atmosphere in the stadium as Athlone are relegated from the Premier Division despite the best efforts from Keith Long and his team in the second-half of the season.
ATHLONE TOWN: Ryan Coulter; Dylan Hayes, Derek Prendergast, Alan Byrne, Kevin Knight; Ian Sweeney (Aidan Collins 40), Eric Foley, James O’Brien, Derek Doyle; Sean Brennan (Graham Rusk 66); Philip Gorman (Barry Clancy 83).
Subs not used: Thomas Mulroney, Sam O’Connor, Stephen Dunne, Paul Skinner (GK)
BRAY WANDERERS: Stephen McGuinness; Eric McGill, Dave Webster, Niall Cooney, Michael Barker; Graham Kelly; Jake Kelly, David Cassidy (Philip Hughes 75), Dean Zambra, Adam Hanlon (Ryan Swan 87); Ismahil Akinade.
Subs not used: Shane O’Connor, Robert Maloney, Gareth McDonagh, Gavin Sheridan (GK).
Referee: Padraigh Sutton.