Football Bet of the Day: Another high-scoring game involving Athlone Town

Friday’s Football Bet of the Day see’s me travel to Ireland and there’s a fixture in the second-tier which appeals to me for goals.

Athlone Town vs Bray Wanderers

🇮🇪 First Division

⏰ Friday 8th July, 19:45

Two of the bottom three in the Irish First Division table meet at Lissywollen, as bottom-placed Athlone Town play host to third from bottom Bray Wanderers.

Despite equalising on the 72nd-minute, Athlone suffered their 10th defeat from their last 11 matches last time out as they lost 3-1 away to Wexford. Athlone lost 2-5 in their last home fixture against Waterford, but won their previous fixture in-front of their own supporters by the same score-line against fellow strugglers Cobh Ramblers. Dermot Lennon’s side have found the back of the net in 9/10 of their home fixtures this season, with only league leaders Cork City (17) scoring more goals at home than Athlone (16). The Town remain the only side in the Irish second-tier yet to keep a clean and no side has conceded more goals than the 51 they have let in.

Bray’s winless run was extended to five matches last time out, as they fell to a 1-3 defeat at home to table-toppers Cork City. Pat Devlin’s side have won just twice away from home this season, with none of those two victories coming in their last seven matches on the road. Bray have conceded in 8/10 of their away fixtures this season and come into this match having kept just a solitary clean sheet from their last 12 matches. The Seagulls have found the back of the net in 14/21 of their league fixtures this season, including in nine of their last 10.

Bet of the Day

Athlone may be rooted to the foot of the Irish first division table, however their matches are rarely dull and I’m expecting more goals when they host Bray on Friday evening. Dermot Lennon’s hosts have found the back of the net in 9/10 of their home fixtures, with only league leaders Cork City scoring more on home turf so far this season, therefore, I expect them to find the back of the net against a Bray side that’s registered just one clean sheet in their last 12 matches. However, Athlone are yet to register a  clean sheet in the league this season, with them also possessing the divisions leakiest defence and I can’t see them shutting out Pat Devlin’s visitors who have found the back of the net in nine of their last 10 matches. 15 of Athlone’s 20 league matches have broken the over 2.5 goals barrier, including each of their last eight and I’m expecting to see at least three strikes at Lissywollen with both sides contributing.

• Athlone Town vs Bray Wanderers – Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals
• Pays 1/1 (Skybet)

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