ATHLONE TOWN'S hopes of retaining their Premier Division status were kept alive at the Brandywell yesterday thanks to a spectacular goal by their 21-year-old striker, Warren Parkes, seven minutes before the end.
Parkes, who was being watched by a number of cross-Channel scouts, met a Johnny Morrisurke centre to volley the ball high into the net from 18 yards.
The goal guarantees Athlone a play-off against Home Farm-Everton next weekend and, judging by yesterday's second-half performance, it is hard to see the Midlanders losing out.
Derry dominated the first half and should have gone in with a more convincing lead at the interval but all they had to show for. their efforts was a successful penalty strike in the 44th minute.
Right winger Ryan Semple cruised into the penalty area before left-back Adrian Carberry hauled the Derry player to the ground and centre-half Paul Curran made no mistake, sending his namesake, Shane, the wrong way.
Harry McCourt squandered a good chance in the 25th minute while the Athlone keeper did particularly well to parry a powerful Semple drive from close-range 10 minutes later.
But Tony Mannion's half-time team-talk had the desired effort after the break. Athlone looked much more positive and after Ray McLoughlin blazed a free-kick narrowly over the crossbar in the 49th minute, the Midlanders began to penetrate. Derry defended stubbornly but Parkes's equaliser was well deserved.
