Best wishes to the Athlone.ie team, who launched their new portal on Thursday evening, with the help of Senator Mary O'Rourke.

Just two years after the initial launch of the website, it has been totally re-designed and now looks very impressive indeed. Check it out for yourself at www.athlone.ie.

Athlone Town Supporters Weekly Lotto Draw details for Monday October 27th 2003 are as follows:

27/10/03 - The Palace Bar, Saint Peter's Square
Numbers drawn were 2, 20, 24 & 27

• Match 4 Winner [€1,800] - None
• Match 3 Winner [€150] - None
• Consolation Prize Winner [€100] - Sean Grady, c/o Department of Education

The first team recorded their fifth win from their last six home games on Friday night, as they beat promotion chasing Bray Wanderers 1 - 0. In an entertaining game, Bray had plenty of possession, but couldn't convert it into goals. Athlone took the lead in the 33rd minute with a great free-kick from Alan Kelly. Martin Reilly had a goal disallowed, and Padraig Moran had a penalty saved, but it didn't matter in the end.

The Under-21's completed their League programme on Saturday afternoon with a 2 - 1 defeat in o2 Park at the hands of Drogheda United - John Conway on the mark for the Town.

Bealnamulla Athlone Town Ladies had no game at the weekend, as the Longford first team were in FAI Cup action. Athlone Town Youths were also idle at the weekend.

The Under-21's play their final game of the season on Saturday October 25th. Their opponents will be Drogheda United with the game taking place in O2 Park at 2pm. The sides already played out an eight goal thriller earlier in the season in Saint Mel's Park.

All the best to the lads.

The following suspensions were issued by the Disciplinary Commission at their meeting on Wednesday, 22nd October 2003 and will take effect as and from Wednesday, 5th November 2003 unless otherwise stated:

Jimmy Greene (Manager, Athlone Town ) suspended for TWO (2) competitive matches and fined €100 as a result of being sent from the technical area v Finn Harps (10.10.03). Jimmy Greene to be positioned at least 50 metres from the technical area for these matches.

Des Hope (Athlone Town) suspended for ONE (1) competitive match and fined €25 as a result of reaching four (4) penalty points.

The latest draw of the Supporters Weekly Lotto took place on Monday night in Biddy Mulligans. The numbers drawn were 14, 22, 24 and 35. There was no match four winner. There was one match three winner with the prize money of 150 going to Padraig Moran, Athlone Town. Congratulations Padraig!

The next draw will take place in the Palace Bar.

The senior team lost their first away game in almost two months on Saturday night last, when they went down 2 - 0 to Kildare County at Station Road. Second half goals from Philly Hughes and Peter Rogers were enough to seal all three points for the promotion chasing Thoroughbreds.

The Under-21's traveled over to Flancare Park on Sunday afternoon to take on Longford Town in their penultimate League game of the season. 2 - 0 down at one stage, the Town did pull one back, but just couldn't get the second to take a point. They face Drogheda in their final game of the season.

The Ladies of Bealnamulla Athlone Town got back on winning ways on Sunday morning, when they beat Mountmellick United 5 - 2. Lorraine Walsh got a hat-trick, with Joanne Moriarty and Ger Griffith adding a goal each to take all three points.

The forum accompanying this website has been changed slightly. You no longer have to register before you can post. Just head to the forum and click on the 'new topic' button!

With Athlone playing away from home this weekend, Saint Mel's Park will play host to a friendly between the Roscommon & District League's Oscar Traynor team and an Army Selection on Friday night. Kickoff is at 7:30pm.

Athlone Town Under-21's play their penultimate game of the season on Sunday afternoon, when they travel to Flancare Park to take on Longford. Second placed Longford go into the game on the back of a 6-0 hammering at home to League leaders Bohemains. While further down the table, Athlone put in a good performance while going down 2 - 1 at home to Shels during the week.

The following suspensions were issued by the Disciplinary Commission at their meeting on Wednesday, 8th October 2003 and will take effect as and from Wednesday, 22nd October 2003 unless otherwise stated:

Stuart Holt (Athlone Town) suspended for ONE (1) competitive match and fined €25 as a result of reaching four (4) penalty points.

The Under-21's played their last home game of the season on Wednesday night, but unfortunately went down 2 - 1 to third placed Shelbourne.

Athlone took the lead in the opening five minutes, when a Shels defender climbed all over Town striker John Conway. Trevor Moylan stepped up to the spot and sent the 'keeper the wrong way to open the scoring. Shels should have equalised four minutes later when lax defending from a free-kick let the Shels No.8 in but he couldn't finish it from 2 yards.

After a number of chances for the Dubliners, Athlone went close to getting their second on 26 minutes. Eoin Fox sent a cross to Andy Mullin at the back post, but the Shels 'keeper did well to pluck the ball out of the air. John Molloy's free on the half hour mark was almost directed into the back of the net by a Shel's defender, but the 'keeper saved easily.

Before the half-time whistle blew, Shels could have had a couple of goals, all from winger on the right, but a combination of good goalkeeping from Dave Keena and bad shots left the score 1 - 0 to Athlone at half-time.

The second half was a fairly even affair with both sides having chances. Unfortunately that only two that mattered, fell to Shelbourne. They equalised with a powerful header from their right back, connecting with a free-kick from the edge of the box. Bouyed by that, Shels went looking for the winner, which arrived not long from the final whistle. A scramble in the Town box led to the ball ending up in the back of the net from Shels No.9.

While the result was disappointing, it was a good performance from Athlone who never looked out of place against the might of Shelbourne. Athlone now have two games left, both away, to Longford Town and Drogheda United.

The first draw of the new Supporters Weekly Lotto took place last night in Higgins' Pub on Pearse Street. The four numbers drawn were 2, 7, 15 and 22. There were no match four or match three winners. All entries then entered a draw for €100. Caroline Molloy of 7 Willow Place, Athlone was the winner. Congratulations Caroline.

Pictured left to right are, Breffni Rowan [ADSL], Anthony Allen [Temple Villa], Adrian Ward [Ballinasloe], Robert Mahon [St. Francis], Keith Grennan [AC Celtic], Lee Gaffey [St. Francis] and Michael Francis, Athlone Town FC. Pic: Padraig Devaney.

Congratulations are also extended to Adrian Ward of Ballinasloe Town, who won the second semi-final of the half-time penalty shootout competition at Athlone's last home game against Finn Harps.

Adrian beat off competition from Robert Mahon of Saint Francis, Anthony Allen of Temple Villa and Keith Grennan of AC Celtic.

Lee Gaffey again did a superb job in goal saving a number of the penalties.

Best of luck to Adrian in the Final.

Athlone Town Football Club wish to express it's sincere condolences to the Jackson family on the death of Maria "Maureen" Jackson. Maureen was mother of former Town player and manager Jimmy Jackson, and grandmother of current Town player, Shane Jackson.

Due to cirsumstances out of our control, the first draw of the new Supporters Weekly Lotto Draw due to take place has last night had to be postponed. The first draw will now take place on Monday October 13th in Higgins' Pub, Pearse Street, Athlone at 11:30pm.

The Under-21's took on Mullingar Town last night in Saint Mel's Park. Mullingar were the first to go close after been awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. Jimmy McEntee curled the ball to the top right hand corner. The ball struck the bar before ricocheting off 'keeper Keena's head and fortunately out of the goal.

Athlone were awarded a penalty after a quarter of an hour when a Mullingar defender handled the ball in the box as John Conway ran in on goal. Michael Harney stepped up, but Kevin Meehan saved down low to his right.

Mullingar took the lead 6 minutes later. A mix up between Keena and Moylan let Micky Hoey to open the scoring. They almost doubled their lead soon after when Shane Brennan's 30 yard effort jumped out of Keena's hand and over his head towards goal. Fortunately he got the ball just before it crossed the line. Jason Walsh then fired over from five yards with an open goal at his mercy.

Athlone did have the ball in the net before the half-time whistle, but John Conway had his goal disallowed for off-side.

Conway had another goal disallowed in the second half, again for offside. Mark Sherlock had a good header tipped over the bar after a good ball in from Will Egan. Trevor Moylan went close from a free, while Conway had a half chance after a great cross field ball from Alan Kelly.

And it was Kelly who secured the unlikely point for Athlone. A good run into the box was finished off with a good powerful drive to the bottom right corner when it looked as though Mullingar would leave with all three points. It was a frustrating night at the office for Athlone, when passes were continuously not finding their targets. However they secured the point and now wait for the visit for Shelbourne to wrap up their home campaign on Monday October 6th [provisional].