Just a couple of weeks ago in the FAI Cup Quarter Final, Harps had been the victims of two late strikes from the midlanders in extra time and although Shane Bradley grabbed a late consolation on that occasion, it wasn't enough, and last night a 91 st minute goal from midfielder Stephen Feeney was their undoing.

Having led from as early as the 11th minute when player-manager Anthony Gorman fired home a free-kick, last night's defeat was particularly disappointing and Harps' winless run has now stretched to seven games.

With just eight games remaining in 2006, it is now just a matter of playing out the season but the boys in blue will still have to start picking up points or they could well find themselves in a position where they would be battling it out for one of the bottom positions in the Division.

That scenario would have been unthinkable for Harps supporters at the turn of the campaign, but with Kildare County closing in fast it is one which could become a reality very swiftly with the Thoroughbreds visiting Finn Park next Saturday night.

For that fixture, Harps will be without the services of suspended trio Minnock, Funston and Meenan while Davitt Walsh will be out for a number of weeks yet with an ankle injury.

Gorman- Scored a Goal, but can't be happy.

Last night, Gorman was able to recall Barry Curran and Eloka Asokhu back into the starting line up in place of Ryan McGavigan and Shane O'Connor with Darren Meenan taking the place in the frontline alongside Stephen O'Donnell.

The young Dubliner was straight into the action in the second minute but he miscued from close range after being presented with a golden opportunity following a poor clearance from Athlone 'keeper Danny O'Leary.

Eleven minutes in and the visitors did edge themselves in front. They were awarded a free kick on the right corner of the penalty box and up stepped player-manager Gorman to send his effort into the far corner via a slight deflection off the Athlone wall.

At the interval, Harps should have been out of sight, but missed chance after missed chance saw Gorman's goal being the only separating factor at the conclusion of the opening 45minutes.

The second half saw chances at a premium, but on 67 minutes Athlone got back on level terms when the impressive Noel McGee was on hand to head home past James Gallagher at the back post.

Three minutes later, the home side will feel they should have edged in front but substitute Mark Sherlock watched James Gallagher make a fantastic full-length save from his first touch.

Barry Curran then missed a guilt edged opportunity for Harps to get back in front when he lost his footing at the vital moment and as the game wore on it seemed as if the sides would settle for a share of the spoils.

With a minute of injury time almost up, Stephen Feeney popped up to head home and send the home fans into delirium and leave Harps yet again wondering what might have been as the post-mortem into another dropped three points commenced. Next on the agenda is Kildare County in Ballybofey next Saturday night.

Athlone Town: Danny O'Leary; Ian Rossiter, Kevin Williamson, Tom Silke, Des Hope; Stephen Feeney, Istvan Lakatos, Damien Rushe, Steven Gavin; Eric Lavine, Noel McGee. Subs:

Finn Harps: James Gallagher; Shaun McGowan, Jonathan Minnock, Eloka Asokhu, Shane Bradley; Michael Funston, Barry Curran, David Bell, Anthony Gorman; Stephen O'Donnell, Darren Meenan. Subs:

Referee: Neil Doyle

Finn Harps Dot Com Man-of-the-Match: Harps had a number of industrious workers last evening, with James Gallagher and Shane Bradley again to the fore, but the pick of the bunch was Stephen O'Donnell in my view.

O'Donnell worked tirelessly throughout and can count himself unlucky to have been on the losing side last night as his effort deserved much, much more.