Bray Wanderers 1/2 to beat Athlone Town in Friday’s Irish First Division contest

Competition: Irish First Division

Market: Bray Wanderers win

Odds: 1/2 @ Bet 365

Still dreaming of making a late charge for the top-four, Bray Wanderers will welcome Athlone Town to Carlisle Grounds on Friday night.

Starting with the hosts, while Bray were left disappointed to have only picked up a 2-2 draw away at Galway United last weekend, the Wanderers once again bagged a pair of goals and have begun to show some real improvements in the final third. Still dreaming of making a late charge for the top-four, Head Coach Gary Cronin will also be growing more impressed by his sides’ form on home soil. Including picking up a 1-0 win over fellow top-four contenders Limerick earlier in the month, Friday’s hosts have secured back-to-back wins at Carlisle Grounds and have also won four of their last five matches in front of their own supporters.

As for the visitors, now suffering back-to-back 2-1 defeats against Shelbourne and Cobh Ramblers, Athlone have continued on a very worrying run of form. Now holding just a five-point buffer from slipping to the foot of the First Division, Terry Butler’s men have recorded just one victory since the 15th of May and fans in Athlone have growing concerns over their sides’ performances on the road. Losing seven of their last eight matches on their travels and conceding two or more goals in each of those defeats, it is also worth noting that Friday’s guests hold the worst defensive record in Ireland’s second-tier.

Bet: Bray Wanderers 1/2 to beat Athlone Town in Friday’s Irish First Division contest @ Bet 365