Bohemians too strong for 10-man Athlone

Athlone Town 1 Bohemians 3

Bohemians travelled to Lissywoollen and became the sixth team in succession to take all three points against Athlone Town this season, though the hosts were much more competitive than the final scoreline suggested.

Bohemians made a strong start and Kevin Devaney rattled the Athlone crossbar after just four minutes but the only highlights in the rest of the first half were chances created by set plays, including Daniel Byrne’s 43rd minute opener, created by a Darragh Reynor corner kick.

Athlone were reduced to ten men shortly after the restart when Derek Prendergast was shown a straight red card for a reckless tackle on Stephen Traynor, but two minutes later the hosts were level as Graham Rusk placed an excellent low shot into the bottom corner from 15 yards out.

Bohemians regained the lead in bizarre fashion when James O'Brien attempted to clear Derek Pender's throw in five minutes later and succeeded only in skewing a kick into the top corner of his own net. Jason Byrne closed out the scoring when he slid in to touch the ball home from two yards out with six minutes remaining.

ATHLONE TOWN: Skinner; Dillon, Collins (Jason Marks 45+1), Prendergast, S Byrne; A Byrne; Brennan (McMahon 59), O'Brien, Hughes, Rusk; Gorman.

BOHEMIANS: Murphy; Pender, Lopes, Price, Reynor; Kavanagh (Beattie 64), D Byrne, Walsh (Corcoran 70), Devaney (Moore 85); Traynor, J Byrne.

Referee: Kevin O'Regan.