A flurry of three goals in five first half minutes proved pivotal as Athlone advanced their playoff hopes considerably, with victory over Waterford at the RSC, this evening.

Connor Parsons looked lively early on as Waterford began at full tilt, defender Darragh Power ramming a shot in which forced Athlone, keeper, Enda Minogue to tip the ball over the bar.

The right back clipped the crossbar ten minutes in, but it was Athlone who moved ahead. 

Their first corner went completely unclaimed by home netminder, Sam Sargeant, his indecisiveness proving costly as Dylan Gavin pounced, pirouetted, and found the net.

Parity was swiftly restored as Roland Idowu danced in from the right and unleashed a lovely, curler of a shot which nestled in the bottom corner, to the delight of the RSC crowd.

Home fans weren’t smiling for long though, top scorer, Frantz Pierrot instantly putting Athlone back in front, the forward lethal from close range after Parsons got his attempted clearance wrong, the carnage created by a cross from visiting captain, Oisin Duffy.

Pierrot’s power was causing Waterford all sorts of defensive woe and they were relieved to see the striker’s second well-taken strike disallowed for a, soft, push on Power.

Waterford’s nearest chance to a second equaliser came when Cameron Cresswell fizzed an audacious backheel past the post, just before the break.

Twelve minutes into a bitty second half, home manager, Keith Long had seen enough sending for Shane Griffin and Christie Pattison to get Waterford back into the contest.

Pattison had an immediate impact, combining with Power to engineer an opportunity which Cresswell fluffed over the top, as the RSC faithful ratcheted up the noise to support their side.

Lacking their usual creativity, Waterford were unable to muster up many chances as Athlone edged nearer to advancing up to third in the table.

Led by Fuentes Rodriguez at the back, Athlone were defensively excellent, Minogue not called upon until late on, denying substitute Serge Atakayi superbly.

Athlone held on doggedly and only a late Cobh Ramblers goal dampens their night as more momentum is stalled for Waterford heading into the crunch end of the season.

Whilst the internationals may be upon us, there is no rest in the First Division as both are on the road next Friday night.  Waterford with the long trek to Donegal to face Finn Harps with Athlone away to Cobh Ramblers in another crunch playoff encounter (both 7:45pm KOs).