Cobh Ramblers head to Athlone looking to maintain good run 

Cobh Ramblers will aim to make it four games unbeaten in the League of Ireland First Division when they face Athlone Town this evening at Lissywollen.

Fran Rockett’s side are making the journey following on from successive draws with Cork City and Finn Harps, along with a defeat of Longford Town at Bishopsgate, a sequence that has left the team in seventh place with five points.

The result in the derby was the most pleasing for Cobh as they came from behind to get a point at St Colman’s Park, against the league leaders who had won all their other competitive games this season.

It looked like that pattern was going to continue as Sean Maguire got in to score a header in the 11th minute. The Ramblers rallied in the face of this, by targeting City in wide positions and pushing up on the left flank. 

This led to a handful of half-chances for the likes of Garry Buckley, but nothing materialised, leading to the visitors taking a narrow advantage at the break. Wilson Waweru managed to win a corner shortly after the restart and the set-piece led to a Charlie Lyons foul on Cian Coleman inside the area. 

A penalty was awarded and converted by Rhys Gourdie, who got his first goal of the season by sending Conor Brann the wrong way in front of the home supporters.

The Rebel Army went for it during the final ten minutes, with attempts falling to Cillian Murphy and Ruairi Keating, and each effort was blocked down by a Cobh defence that gave it their all.

Rockett wants to carry that performance into this week’s game with Athlone Town, and every other outing after that.

“I think all the older lads are even saying there, you know, that's the level we need to go to and we need to go higher as well,” he said.

“There were stages where we [would have] liked to progress the ball and stay on it. But I think what we need to be, we need to make sure [we keep] that work rate and that endeavour, that's what we need to try and do and bring into every game. 

"I think the Wexford one is nearly a catalyst for that now after that performance and the way we more or less downed tools. 

I hate saying that about a group of players. But that wasn't us.

“And I think over the last few weeks, we're starting to turn the screw on that and show the real us, you know.” 

CHALLENGING

Athlone Town will be another test after the club started the season with victories over Finn Harps and Kerry, and a draw with Wexford. 

Ian Ryan’s side did lose to Bray Wanderers 2-1 last week at the Carlisle Grounds, with Patrick Ferry’s opener cancelled out by goals from Alain Kizenga and Tyreik Sammy.

Rockett knows what Athlone are like after studying their games, and he hopes to turn the positive energy following the Cork City game into three points at Lissywollen.

“I watched Athlone [before the Cork City game],” he said.

They are a very good team. I know Ian Ryan very well. They’ll have their team set up and they’ll try and play as well. 

"But I think it's one of those where we are lucky that it's on AstroTurf as well. You're not going from grass to AstroTurf. So all these things matter.

“But look, Athlone are going to be a very good side. But you know this league, it can change so quickly. So it's important to keep the emotion and balance in check and that we don't get too high or too low.

“But I think that performance against Cork City gives us something to build on and we want to go one further and try and get three points.” 

The Ramblers will make the journey with a squad that is coming back to full fitness after a number of noticeable absences in recent weeks.

Luka Le Bervet was back against Cork City and Dylan McGlade featured for the U20s last weekend in a defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic. Shane T Griffin remains out, with no date set for the midfielder’s return from injury.