City outdo assertive Athlone despite Murphy absence

By Donncha Noonan | Photo: Kevin Barry Dorney

After a dogged win in the Bowl against UCD last time out, City returned back to the Cross as they looked to continue their near perfect start to the First Division campaign. It was Athlone Town who travelled to Leeside, with City running out 4-1 winners despite the missing Cillian Murphy and Brody Lee.

It was just the one forced change for Barry Robson’s side, as Conor Drinan came in for Cillian Murphy who’s out on international duty with the Ireland U17s.

There were three changes made to the Athlone lineup that lost to Treaty United last week. Brian McManus, Gradi Lomboto and an injured Oisin Hand all dropped out, with Robert Lyons, Peter Grogan and Jonathan Kehir all stepping into the team.

The first chance of the game fell to Ruairi Keating after three minutes. A Charlie Lyons throw in down the left hand side found Seani Maguire, who laid it off to Conor Drinan before Drinan dinked the ball over the top for Hans Mpongo to chase. The Dutchman got to the byline before pulling it back centrally for an oncoming Ruairi Keating, but the striker's effort flew narrowly over the bar.

City wouldn't have much longer to wait to open the scoring, as they took the lead three minutes later. Josh Fitzpatrick slipped a sublime ball for Ruairi Keating to run through on goal, with Keating sliding the ball under keeper Andrew Stuart Trainor. Reece Webb came close to clearing it off the line, so Hans Mpongo came in and tapped it over to make sure of the goal.

Things got better for the hosts as their lead was doubled in the thirty-sixth minute. Josh Fitzpatrick burst down the right wing before pulling it centrally to Seani Maguire. He spread it out left to Hans Mpongo who laid it off to the oncoming Conor Drinan. The wing-back hit it first time and slotted a brilliant side footed finish into the far right corner.

The visitors weren't lying down though and pulled a goal back five minutes later. Aaron Connolly picked up the ball after a loose Hans Mpongo touch on the right hand side. Connolly whipped in an inviting cross towards the back post where Aderinsola Adewale rose highest to power a header past Conor Brann.

That goal would bring an end to an intriguing first half, after which City would go into the break one goal to the good.

City began the second half similarly to the first, with Josh Fitzpatrick going close in the fifty-first minute. Seani Maguire picked up the ball in midfield and slotted a lovely ball through for Fitzpatrick. He bore down on goal and tried to poke an effort past the keeper, but Trainor did well to deflect it wide.

City finally broke through and found their third in the sixty-fifth minute. Greg Bolger won the ball high up on the left hand flank. He then whipped a low cross into the box aiming for Ruairi Keating, but the cross evaded both Keats and the Athlone keeper and nestled into the bottom right corner.

The hosts capped off the game with a fourth in the eighty-ninth minute. A long ball from Conor Brann was flicked on by Keats to Hans Mpongo. He slipped a ball through for the underlapping AJ Bridge who hit it first time and drilled a finish into the bottom right corner to notch his first in a City shirt since his arrival on loan from Norwich. 

And that would be all for this one as City ran away with what in the end was a comfortable victory. I do want to give credit to Athlone as they were probably the best team I've seen City play this season. I know that sounds weird since they lost 4-1 but I liked the more expansive style of football they tried to play. On the other side of things, it was probably City’s best performance of the season apart from the Wexford game. The first half was a little slow but overall City played far faster and with more intent than we’ve seen thus far and were worth every bit of the three goal margin of victory that they earned.

My Man of the Match goes to Hans Mpongo. The Dutchman grabbed a goal and two assists in a performance that stood out among quite a few good performances for City. After the last few games where he's not been as productive, it's good to see him get back to his best and hopefully it continues.

City have the long trip north to Donegal to take on Finn Harps on Friday. As for Athlone, they'll look to recover from this loss and return to winning ways at home to UCD.