Premier

Athlone Town Stadium, Lissywollen
24 Oct 2014

Foley helps Jake to his feet - or not
pics Michael Tierney

A draw against the now safe Bray Wanderers while UCD were beating Drogheda in Dublin condemned Athlone Town to relegation after a single season in the top flight.

Bray looked to have handed the basement side a lifeline when captain Dave Wewbster gave away a penalty mid way through the first half, Philly Gorman converting well from the spot.

But a couple of moments of madness by Alan Byrne earned him a pair of yellow cards and an early shower, and threatening the Midlanders' lead.

The home side to be fair didn't look like ten men playing eleven after the resumption, latching onto any ball the Seagulls played loose, and constantly threatening the Bray goal.

Nevertheless the visitors equalised with a fearsome volley by Dean Zambra after a short corner was only partly cleared.

McGuinness applauds the travelling support

And on the few occasions when Athlone broke through the Bray defence, they failed to find the target.

Under Keith Long, the Midlanders have developed into a stylish flowing footballing side which will be missed as they return to the First Division.

Mícheál Ó hUanacháin

Bray Wanderers: 32 Stephen McGuinness; 6 Eric McGill, 12 Niall Cooney, 2 David Webster (c), 14 Michael Barker; 9 Ismahil Akinade, 16 Dean Zambra, 24 Graham Kelly, 11 Adam Hanlon; 8 David Cassidy, 10 Jake Kelly
Subs: 1 Gavin Sheridan (gk), 13 Ryan Swan (for Hanlon 88), 15 Shane O'Connor, 20 Philip Hughes (for Cassidy 77), 22 Robert Maloney, 23 Gareth McDonagh
Athlone Town: 21 Ryan Coulter; 2 Dylan Hayes, 4 Derek Prendergast, 6 Alan Byrne (c), 28 Kevin Knight; 11 Ian Sweeney, 23 Eric Foley, 16 James O'Brien, 25 Derek Doyle; 10 Sean Brennan; 9 Philip Gorman
Subs: 1 Paul Skinner (gk), 5 Aidan Collins (for Sweeney 43), 14 Barry Clancy (for Gorman 85), 15 Graham Rusk (for Brennan 68), 17 Thomas Mulroney, 19 Sam O'Connor, 29 Stephen Dunne
Referee: Padraigh Sutton