THE great escapologists of the National League are at it again, it would appear. Athlone Town's recent run of improved results, especially at St Mel's Park where even Manchester City tell last Monday night, has brought the escape route of the play off again into focus. This isn't just bad news for Drogheda it's bad news for the title aspirants as well.

Cast in the role of kingmakers last season, it could be argued that nobody, had a bigger say in the destination of the title than Athlone. Not only did they beat Derry on the final day of the season, Athlone seriously dented the hopes, of third placed Shelbourne and fourth placed Bohemians by holding them twice, had managed the feat three times against tonight's visitors, league leaders St Patrick's. For good measure, Athlone beat Shamrock Rovers twice.

Intriguingly, the midlanders have still to play host to the leading Dublin trio on the run in Kingmakers again then, though their energetic new manager Tony Mannion sees that as incidental.

"We are only concerned with our own performances. It's not an issue for us as to who wins the league and whether we do somebody else a favour. You really have to concentrate on what you re doing, and if we play as we have been lately then we've every chance.

Quite why Athlone have again waited until staring relegation in the eye to roll up their sleeves is a mystery to Mannion. In the last few weeks the quality of the players attitude has been smashing. Why haven't they performed like this all season? Maybe they had to wait until, they, were in trouble before saying right, now we've got to pick ourselves up. Obviously, it's not a good way to conduct your business."

Mannion has the height of respect for St Patrick's, "a good side, well balanced, strong, and very competitive", as well as insider information on four of his former Galway charges, whose presence adds an extra edge to the encounter.