Women’s Match Report: Sligo Rovers (A)

Casey Shows Us Howe Its Done.

Athlone Town won 2-0 against Sligo Rovers on the 25th of May 2024.It was an entertaining game in the Showgrounds where Athlone started brightly, and it was the visitors that hit the front first.

In the 7th minute the move was started by a magnificent ball forward by Kayleigh Shine giving Roisin Molloy something to chase, Molloy got the cross in and it was flicked on wonderfully by Chloe Singleton to the former Sligo Rovers player Casey Howe who made no mistake from 8 yards out putting the town 1-0 up.

Casey almost had a second in the 16th minute when she headed a Madison Gibson corner goal ward, but it was well held by Amber Hardy in the Rovers goal.

Hardy was called on again in the 19th minute the ball broke to the edge of the area, after an Athlone attack, to Kate Slevin who fired a shot at goal from 20 yards out and it was well saved by Hardy.In the 23rd minute, Sligo had the ball in the net, but the referee had blown the whistle and Katie Keane was fouled as the ball came in and it was a free out to Athlone.

A Madison Gibson ball forward to the left wing, set Athlone on the attack with Casey Howe who ran at the Sligo defence and her pull back was to Molloy whose shot was deflected but found its way into the arms of the Sligo Rovers goalkeeper.

In the 45th minute a Jesi Rossman freekick was flicked on by Chloe Singleton towards Madison Gibson who had just drifted offside. It made its way to Casey Howe who turned the ball home but it was chalked off for the offside offence. Sligo finished the half brightly, but it was the visitors who went in at the break 1-0 up.

Sligo Rovers, just after break, felt they could have had a penalty for a challenge by Shauna Brennan on Keri Loughrey, but the referee waved play on.

Athlone had a chance to double their lead in the 53rd minute when a Shauna Brennan cross from the left-hand side was met at the back post by Roisin Molloy but she couldn’t get a good connection and it went wide, it was a let off for the hosts.

Athlone did double their lead in the 65th minute when Rossman controlled a Sligo Rovers clearance at the halfway line. Rossman pumped the ball forward to Shauna Brennan who with a bit of work to do, cushioned to ball into the path of Casey Howe who had time to pick her spot and with her first touch fired the ball in the net putting Athlone 2-0 up.

In 66th minute Howe was looking for her hat trick when she shot from just outside the box, but it never really troubled Hardy in the Sligo goal.In the 76th minute Athlone had a chance to put the game to bed when Madison Gibson ran down the left wing despite being held back by her opponent got her cross in, which was left for Singleton by Brown, but Chloe shot was just wide of the post.

Both teams would create another couple of chances but it was Athlone that held on for the win and sees them move back to third in the table on sixteen points and Sligo stay tenth on three points as we head into the international break.

Next up for Athlone is a trip to Cork on the 8th of June.

Athlone Town AFC: Katie Keane, Kellie Brennan, Kayleigh Shine, Shauna Brennan (Gillian Keenan 81′), Jesi Lynne Rossman, Kate Slevin (Ciara O’Neill 89’), Chloe Singleton, Casey Howe (Isabel Ryan 89’), Laurie Ryan ©, Roisin Molloy (Kerryanne Brown 65′), Madison Gibson.

Unused Substitutes: Amy Mahon, Antea Guvo, Mary Philips, Aoife Murphy O’Connor, Hazel Donegan.

Attendance: Unknown

AthloneTownAFC.ie Player of The Match: Casey Howe