It required a 90th-minute goal to seal the victory but Athlone Town will not care one bit because all that mattered was securing the three points in Eamonn Deacy Park.
Athlone saw off Galway WFC 4-3 to opening win in this season’s WNL.
Galway had interim manager Mazz Sweeney calling the shots and her game-plan looked good early doors when youngster Abbie Callanan scored after 12 minutes.
However, that goal just fired Athlone up even more when Katelyn Keogh responded within five minutes before Muireann Devaney put them ahead with a superb left-footed effort.
Kellie Brennan got in on the scoring act before Galway's Lynsey McKey hit back with two goals. Athlone had Aife Haran sent off before Devaney got the vital touch to their final goal to seal a first win of the 2021 season.
Elsewhere a first-half finish from Emily Whelan proved to be the difference in this Dublin derby as Shelbourne scored a 1-0 win over Bohemians.
Whelan latched onto a chipped pass from Saoirse Noonan to score on 28 minutes and bring the Republic of Ireland WNT international's overall tally for the season up to four goals.
Bohs goalkeeper Courtney Maguire, on her first start of the season, didn't have much to do after that, which showcased the battling effort registered by Sean Byrne's side.
Shels looked dangerous at times but they were unable to bring any fluidity to their play. So taking three points from this game will be seen as a big positive, while Bohs can be proud of their display.
Meanwhile Treaty United celebrated their first victory of the campaign with a 3-2 win over Cork City in Turners Cross.
A stunning solo effort from Gillian Keenan summed up their approach to deciding their own fate at Turner's Cross but that only came after the visitors had scored twice already.
Sisters Aoife and Rebecca Horgan combined for the opener with the latter providing the finish and Rebecca netted again before the interval.
Cork did draw level initially through a fine strike from Sarah McKevitt but they were always chasing this game, even when Becky Cassin scored a late penalty. This was Treaty's one to celebrate.
While, Champions Peamount United didn't hit top gear as they made it seven wins in a row and they weren't required to either with a 2-0 win away to DLR Waves.
Eleanor Ryan-Doyle broke the deadlock on 18 minutes when the in-form attacker made a burst to the near post to meet Áine O'Gorman's cross with a diving header.
The League leaders extended their lead when Ryan-Doyle converted a penalty to help her move onto eight goals for the season and take pole position in the Golden Boot race.
If it wasn't for DLR goalkeeper Eva Badana, who pulled off four excellent saves, the scoreline could have been worse on a day when the hosts never really got their attacking play going.
