Match Report: Cobh Ramblers 3-3 ATAFC
Cobh Comeback Clinches Draw
The match truly was a game of two halves, with Athlone shining brighter initially. Athlone looked dangerous on the attack and found the front 25 minutes in. Following Jarlath Jones’s throw-in, Jamal Ibrahim carved out space on the left wing, delivering a cross that Dean Ebbe expertly headed home who rose highest in the six-yard box and his header found the back of the net.
Athlone continued to create lots of openings and in the 32nd minute following a cleared corner the ball was retrieved on the left-hand side by Noah Van Geenen who momentarily forgot he was a centre back, turned exquisitely and floated a ball into the box to find Dylan Hand who with a powerful header smashed the ball off the cross bar and in to go two goals to the good.
As the second half began, deteriorating weather worsened playing conditions, coinciding with a marked improvement in Cobh’s performance. From a corner on the left hand side the ball missed everyone and substitute Nolan Evers found himself at the back post and turned the ball in to get Cobh back into the game.
Just past the hour Aaron Connolly, seizing the ball in Cobh’s half, charged at the defence. From about 20 yards out, he outwitted a defender with a clever dummy before curving a stunning shot past an outstretched Darragh Burke who couldn’t do much about the strike. Athlone restored the two-goal lead.
Athlone probably thought at this stage they had done enough but Cobh had different ideas and The Town were under massive pressure. Around the 70th minute mark, Dale Holland from about 20 yards out hit a wonderful strike along the ground past Enda Minogue in the Athlone Goal and it was game on.
In the 77th minute, following a contentious corner, Cobh’s relentless pressure paid off. The cross found its way through a crowded box to David Bosnjak, who clinched the equalizer from 12 yards out to complete the comeback and earn a share of the points for Cobh Ramblers on their first league home game away from home.
Athlone will rue missing out on three points after dominating the first half.
Following match day two, this result drops Athlone to second and propels Cobh to sixth in the table.
Athlone Town AFC: Enda Minogue, German Fuentes Rodriguez (Gideon Tetteh 88’), Jarlath Jones, Noah van Geenen, Daniel McKenna, Dylan Hand, Aaron Connolly (C), Dean Ebbe, Carl Mujaguzi (Divine Izekor 70′) (Dylan Gavin 88’), Amardo Oakley, Jamal Ibrahim (Brian Torre 54′)
Unused Substitutes: Andrew Stuart Trainor, Ruban Candal, Shane Forbes, Oisin Duffy, Matthew Leal
Bookings: McKenna (76), Izekor (88)
Attendance: 367
AthloneTownAFC.ie Man of The Match: Aaron Connolly