Finn Harps made to be content with share the spoils against Athlone Town

Finn Harps’ winless run extended to nine games tonight but they will travel back home from the midlands in reasonably positive spirits after creating by far the better chances, and looking like a much sharper team despite operating with a threadbare squad in Athlone.

That didn’t show in the first half as neither side succeeded in really stretching their opponents. Gradi Lomboto, fresh from scoring his first goal for the club in last week’s 1-1 draw with Wexford, started out operating on the left wing and he used his pace and power to sprint clear and fire a good shot a couple of feet over the crossbar.

READ NEXT: Mark English maintains superb form with another sub-1:44 run in Paris

His counterpart, Gideon Tetteh, proved to be the star player for the remainder of the half however, using his craft and footwork to torment Josh Cullen and get behind the Harps’ defence time and again. He had the only shot on target of the half when he cut and attempted to find the bottom corner with his right foot, but without the power or the accuracy, his effort was easily saved by Corey Sheridan, who had a very solid outing after being drafted in to replace Oisín Cooney.

With Shaunie Bradley drawing the attention of referee Darragh White for a couple of robust challenges, Lomboto took his place at the top of the pitch with Gavin Hodgins stepping in on the left wing.

As the second half progressed and with Harps playing much better football all across the pitch, Hodgins was a standout performer, aside from his tetchy encounters with Oisín Duffy, his direct opponent.

His curling 18-yard shot that was pushed onto the right hand post by a magnificent fingertip save from Lee Axworthy Duggan was the highlight of the night, though it wasn’t the only time Harps rattled the woodwork.

With five minutes remaining, Mikey Place was introduced and he almost made his cameo role into a leading part in the story when he sent an inviting low cross into the ‘corridor of uncertainty’, with Lomboto getting enough of a touch to direct the ball towards goal.

This time the crossbar came to Athlone’s rescue, and that set up a frenetic finale as both clubs seemed to realise that if they are to make a late run for a playoff spot, one point in a game like this wouldn’t be much use.

It looked like Athlone would have the best opportunity when lively teenage sub Alex Sheerin won a free that led to consternation in the Harps’ box, but eventually Max Hutchinson did enough to avert the danger, and in the last play of the game, he set Lomboto free down the right-hand side.

The former Galway United player almost crowned his birthday week with another sensational play as he beat two tackles and played a perfect centre along the deck to Hodgins, who just needed to pull the trigger from ten yards out.

Pull he did, but the ball flew too high, and before he could take his hands off his head, the final whistle confirmed the extension of Harps’ long run without a win, albeit with plenty of positivity as consolation in advance of Dundalk’s visit to Finn Park on Monday.

Athlone Town: Lee Axworthy Duggan; Oisín Duffy, Cole Omorehiomwan (German Fuentes Rodriguez 7, Noe Baba 43), Dylan Hand, Kyle O’Connor; Daniel McKenna (Dean Williams HT), Billy Gilmore; Ben Feeney, Kailin Barlow, Gideon Tetteh; Kyle Robinson (Alex Sheerin 75).
Finn Harps: Corey Sheridan; Josh Cullen, Max Hutchinson, Joel Bradley-Walsh, Joel Thompson; Kevin Jordan, Tony McNamee (Adam McDaid 85); Gavin Gilmore (Mikey Place 85), Gavin McAteer, Gradi Lomboto; Shaunie Bradley (Gavin Hodgins 33).
Referee: Darragh White.