After the managerial shake-up at the club during the week, Athlone Town suffered their first defeat of the campaign in a disappointing loss in the midlands Derby (El Classico) to Longford Town.
A Davy O’Sullivan hat-trick gave Longford a 3-0 win in Lissywollen, after successive victories over Waterford and Wexford had given Athlone fans a huge degree of excitement heading into the big midlands Derby.
A very disappointed First-team coach Colin Fortune spoke to us after the game,”It was a very disappointing night from our point of view.”
“After two good results, a big crowd and good atmosphere, it was a pity the performance and result was not better.”
“The players themselves know that there performances last night was not up to the standard we require. We spoke after the game and the players were very disappointed.”
“We made some individual errors and we were punished from them errors.”
“Although, our performace was not what it should have been, with a bit of luck or with some better finishing the result may have been different.”
“We had some good opportunities throughout the game to score but failed to take any of them and at this level you must take your opportunities when they come along or you will be punished and thats exactly what happened last night.”
Athlone will need to bounce back quickly, as the face a trip down south to face Stephen Henderson’s Cobh Ramblers next Saturday.