Dean Ebbe spot on to give Athlone narrow play-off advantage

Athlone Town have one foot in the promotion play-off final following a 1-0 first leg victory over Wexford at Lissywollen.

A Dean Ebbe penalty in the 54th minute was the difference, but it could count for nothing as the two teams have to do it all over again on Monday at Ferrycarrig Park.

The prize on stake will be a one-off game with the winner of the tie between Bray Wanderers and UCD and the victor will go on to play Premier Division side Drogheda United.

It's a convoluted path that could end in eternal glory or a winter of regret, and that created a perfect storm in the midlands as clear-cut chances were rare.

The first actual opening of note came from a Thomas Oluwa cross in the 13th minute and that was easily knocked away by Dylan Hand.

Up until that point, it was all Athlone, but their possession counted for very little as Wexford stood firm in defence.

They did win a free-kick in the third minute over a foul on Kyle Robinson, and Leonardo Gaxha’s effort from distance went out for goal-kick.

Wexford slowly found themselves in an attacking sense and they put together the best move of the half when Thomas Oluwa broke a long-ball from Conor Walsh down to Aaron Dobbs in the 37th minute.

The former Ireland U19 international tried working with Divin Isamala, and their attempted low ball to an on-rushing Kian Corbally was cleared by Oisin Duffy.

It was 0-0 at half-time and the game restarted with a shot from Daniel McKenna going straight into the hands of Walsh.

A mistake by Isamala followed, and Gideon Tetteh ran into the area after picking off a stray pass by the half-way line.

The winger was brought down by Lewis Temple as he slowed down, and the resulting penalty was knocked in by Ebbe.

There was no immediate rush for an