Jesi Rossman netted her first goal for Athlone Town as the Midlanders secured a hard fought 1-0 win over DLR Waves in Lissywollen this evening.

Three wins from three in all competitions, Athlone are brimming with confidence they can head to Sligo next weekend and make the cup decider. A very hard fought win with Rugile Auskalnyte making a host of top class saves to keep the score line at one all evening.

Rossman joined in the off season and poking home from close range proved all the difference as the Midlanders could finish mid-table this season, however the lure of Cup silverware might take priority.

Athlone were sharp off the start and had the ball in the net six minutes into the contest as Madison Gibson crossed to the area and Dana Scheriff poked home but was flagged for offside.

Roisin Molloy had a pair of chances to put Athlone ahead, the second was a stunning volley from a Shauna Brennan cross that flew left and wide of the Waves net. The Midlanders were well on top however the goal of Rugile Auskalnyte remained unbreached.

24 minutes in however that would change, Athlone kept pressure on from corners, Gibson opted to go short and on the receiving in of the pass, her low effort was palmed away by Auskalnyte, into the feet of Jesi Rossman who fired into an empty net from close range for the lead.

Molloy and Scheriff both had half chances soon after the opener but were unable to direct the ball goalwards, Molloy came close again shy of the half hour mark but the Waves keeper did well to get in the way. 

As the half wore on the hosts had much more of the possession and in turn the degree of the chances, Chloe Singleton directed a header toward goal that was the best of the chances after the half hour mark, it was flagged offside after Auskalnyte held the ball between her gloves. Waves threatened very little as the host’s defended with precision, keeping their lead alive at the break. 

A couple minutes into the second half Scheriff almost made it 2-0, just unable to steer homa e across that flashed across the face of the DLR net. Lauren Karabin fancied her luck in the 48th minute from range that needed Auskalnyte to tip over for a corner.

Waves had their first real chance in the 55th minute with Katie Keane forced into a strong save to deny Michelle Doonan from close range. Auskalnyte was still the busier of the two keepers and she stayed vigilant racing out to smother a pass destined for Singleton after the hour mark.

Molloy called the Lithuanian net minder into action once again in the 65th minute, the Waves keeper tipping over a curling effort from outside the area, stunning save to keep it at 1-0, Athlone trying their best to put the game to bed thwarted at every chance by the Waves keeper.

For the remainder of the tie the narrative remained the same, Keane and Athlone defended well and at the other end Athlone failed to score the insurance goal but in the end three points on the board and minutes into the legs before the Cup semi-final next week.