Athlone sink Shels to boost their title dreams

Athlone Town came from behind to grab a massive win over Shelbourne that sent three points clear at the summit after a fiery and frenetic SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division clash at Tolka Park.

Having lost the influential Chloe Singleton to a nasty looking injury, goals from Brenda Ebika Tabe and Kerryann Ryan helped inflict a first defeat of the campaign on Shels, who had taken the lead through a Jemma Quinn stunner.

With the echoes of the AC/DC sound-check reverberating around the famous old ground, the real rock’n’roll took place on the hallowed turf of Tolka as the league's top two faced off.

Both teams, separated only on goal difference prior to kick-off, wasted no time feeling each other out, going straight for the jugular from the first whistle.

Roma McLaughlin tested Katie Keane in the first minute but the Irish under-19 stopper was equal to the strike.

Minutes later the visitors went rampaging down the left before Maddie Gibson delivered a deep cross to the back post finding Roisin Molloy, who saw her close-range volley bravely blocked.

Former Cameroon youth International Brenda Ebika Tabe was in from the start, replacing star forward Casey Howe who picked up an early injury in last week's win against Sligo Rovers.

Tabe was bright, controlling with her chest and turning before drilling a low shot straight at Amanda McQuillan.

The visitors, really growing in confidence, were left scratching their heads at just how they hadn't gotten in front midway through the half as gilt-edged chances went begging.

First Tabe failed to direct her free header on target from just six yards out before Singleton burst into the area to latch onto a deep cross but saw her effort on the stretch come back off the crossbar.

The game