Athlone Town powered into the final of the Women’s Champions League first qualifying round on Wednesday morning, outclassing North Macedonian side ZFK Skopje 2014 at Zagłabiowski Park Sportowy in the Polish city of Sosnowiec.
Lily Agg’s team were in control of this contest from the off, taking the lead through Shauna Brennnan in the 19th minute, and doubling their advantage with a Noelle Murray header just before half-time. Dana Scheriff’s goal and a Michaela Hand strike late in the second half wrapped up a convincing victory.
Athlone were fancied to get through this one. They did so impressively, and will now take on either host club Czarni Sosnowiec or Georgia’s WFC Nike at the same venue on Saturday evening (5pm Irish time).
Last year the midlanders had a brilliant run in Europe, beating Cardiff City and Croatian side ZNK Agram to progress from the first qualifying round.
They lost to Icelandic champions Breidablik in the Round 2 semi-final in the Netherlands, but got past Red Star Belgrade 2-0 in the third-placed play-off to enter the first qualifying round of the newly formed UEFA Women’s Europa Cup. Glasgow City ended the adventure with a 6-0 aggregate victory.
Many of the players who starred in that campaign were present here. Athlone simply had too much nous, too much quality for their lower-ranked opponents.
Shauna Brennan guides home the opener
Dana Scheriff wasn’t there last year having headed off for stints with FC Aarau in Switzerland, FC Brooklyn in New York, and Czech outfit Slavia Praha, but she returned in the winter to fill the void left by Kelly Brady and was typically bright this morning.
Scheriff had the first shot in anger as Athlone took control of the game early, her rising effort from 25 yards floating into the hands of Evgenija Veljanovska.
In the sixth minute they should have broken the deadlock. Madi Gibson’s drive from range was pawed down by Veljanovska, Kayleigh Shine lobbed the rebound over the bar with the goal at her mercy.
New signing Sofia Casaubon Stovold nodded a free-kick off target moments later; then Scheriff prodded just wide after her initial effort was blocked.
An Athlone opener felt inevitable, but they were indebted to keeper Maria Matthaiou in the 12th minute – the Cypriot pulled off a terrific save to divert Rabija Dervishi’s snap-shot around the post.
Athlone soon reasserted their dominance and they got a deserved breakthrough with 19 minutes gone. Roisin Molloy whipped in a great cross from the right, and Brennan cleverly chested it home from close range.
Skopje 2014 were chasing shadows at times as Agg’s side confidently kept posession, probing and stretching.
Hannah Waesch scooped a decent chance into the stands after good work from Gibson, before Scheriff glanced wide at the back post when she should have scored.
Gibson drew a really good save from Veljanovska after she glided infield from the left and let fly, the stopper batting it away acrobatically. But the second did arrive not long after, wily attacker Murray getting on the end of a deep right-wing cross to loop a header in off the inside of the post.
Agg withdrew Gibson and Waesch at the break, but her team continued to dominate.
Murray and Molloy caused havoc on the turnaround, while Scheriff was a constant menace. The striker’s fierce strike from inside the area looked destined to rattle the net, only for Veljanovska to brilliantly tip it over.
Athlone were denied a penalty just after the hour mark when Hristina Joshevska bundled Scheriff over in the box, Lithuanian referee Ugne Smitaite waving away Irish appeals.
Athlone Town boss Lily Agg
Murray blazed one wide from just outside the box as the tempo sagged and Athlone dictated the rules of engagement.
Substitute Chloe Singleton then became the latest Athlone player to be denied by Veljanovska who parried her effort from close range. However, from the resulting corner, Scheriff got her goal, knocking in a 78th-minute downward header that nestled in the left corner.
It got better again four minutes later. A corner was only cleared as far as the fringes of the area and another sub, Michaela Hand, steered home a controlled volley.
This was a textbook European showing from Athlone, and though they will doubtless face a tougher task on Saturday, Agg will be hopeful her seasoned outfit will have enough to stay on the march.
Athlone Town: Maria Matthaiou, Kayleigh Shine, Phoebe Hampson (Kellie Brennan 83), Sofia Casaubon Stovold, Shauna Brennan (Michaela Hand 78), Alexis Strickland (Chloe Singleton 69), Hannah Waesch (capt, Kerryanne Brown HT), Noelle Murray, Roisin Molloy, Madi Gibson (Isabel Ryan HT), Dana Scheriff
ZFK Skopje 2014: Evgenija Veljanovska, Kristina Krsteva, Mihaela Dodevska (Blehana Alieska 36), Sara Kolarovska (capt), Mila Paneva, Hristina Joshevska, Radica Choneva (Besarta Fida 66), Jovana Karalioska, Ivana Milevska, Rabija Dervishi (Elena Naomoska), Jovana Pavloska (Ana Borizoska 66)
Referee: Ugne Smitaite (Lithuania)
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