Controversial late penalty denies Mervue United deserved victory

Mervue United 2
Athlone Town 2

Jason Byrne at Fahy’s Field

It was daylight robbery. With 93 minutes on the clock, Mervue United were seconds away from recording back-to-back wins to keep the pressure on Longford Town at the top of the table.

In one cruel twist, Athlone launched one final attack as Ian Sweeney was put through, and he forced a wonderful save from Mervue ’keeper Brian O’Donoghue.

At the opposite post, Athlone’s Barry Clancy went in with two feet on Joe Woods and tumbled to the ground. Horrifically, Westmeath referee Ray Matthews – who was yards away – decided to award a penalty.

Mervue’s shocked players surrounded the official in disgust, but it was no use as Philip Gorman pelted the ball down the middle of the goal to cruelly deny Johnny Glynn’s men an extra two points.

The game got off to a forgetful start as Athlone continued in their usual frustrating style of football. There was virtually nothing worth noting until the visitors hit the front when Brabhan Coughlan’s cross was misread by Marc Ludden, who turned it into his own net.

Within a minute, however, Mervue were level when Jason Molloy’s cross was half-volleyed home by former Galway United man Stephen Walsh, who has been in fine form of late.

On the half hour mark Mervue went close again when Ludden’s cross from the left was spilled by Athlone stopper Paul Skinner, but Clancy was at hand to clear their lines.

Minutes later, Gary Curran drove a ball into the area and Gorman nearly headed into his own net, but his blushes were spared as the ball hit the side-netting much to the relief of the Midlanders.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.