20th January 2000 

Tipton presses

ATHLETIC have gone `Down Under' in the pursuit of new players to strengthen their squad. Aussie trialists Peter Mihalopoulos and Con Antonio today arrived at Boundary Park for trials over the next fortnight. 

Mihalopoulos, a 20-year-old striker, and central defender Antonio (22) both play for Port Adelaide Lions. The pair both hold Greek passports so there would be no problems obtaining work permits. 

It is likely the players will feature in Athletic reserves' next two Pontins Central League games. Mihalopoulos and Antonio join Finnish trialist Tero Karhu who last night played his second reserve-team game at Tranmere. The former under-21 international, a left-sided midfield player, gave a good display and he will be remaining at Boundary Park until next week. 

Athletic have received three pieces of cheer on the injury front involving Paul Rickers, Mark Hotte and Craig Dudley. Midfield player Rickers has been troubled for several weeks by a groin injury. But a visit to a specialist has revealed no serious problem and he has been told he can carry on. 

An X-ray on Hotte's injured wrist has shown there is no break, while hospital checks have also soon that Dudley has not, as feared, broken a bone in his foot. Captain Lee Duxbury (thigh) and Shaun Garnett (calf) are both expected to be fit for Saturday's league match at Burnley. They were hurt in Tuesday's home defeat by Stoke in the Auto Windscreens Shield. Ritchie has given his players a two-day break to recover from Tuesday's gruelling cup clash which went to extra time before Athletic lost to a 116th minute golden goal. 

Richard Graham continued on the comeback trail in the reserves at Tranmere last night. The injury-plagued Graham has been troubled by a back complaint for the last three months. Ritchie believes Graham will need a third reserve-team outing to sharpen up before being considered for a first-team comeback. 

Latics reserves out of luck

TRANMERE RES 2, ATHLETIC RES 1

ATHLETIC reserves enjoyed little luck as they suffered only their third Pontins League defeat of the season last night at Prenton Park. They had enough chances to have won the game then cruelly saw an unfortunate own goal by Ben Futcher seal victory for the Wirral side. It was sweet revenge for Tranmere as they had lost by the same scoreline in September at Boundary Park. Athletic, despite losing, can take some encouraging pointers from the match with captain Paul Jones solid at the back and a lively contribution in midfield from Finnish trialist Tero Karhu. It was an open and enjoyable clash with plenty of chances created by both sides. Michael Black broke the deadlock after 11 minutes with a neat chip over goalkeeper David Miskelly from outside the penalty area. Athletic were denied an equaliser by Tranmere’s veteran ‘keeper Eric Nixon who pulled off good saves from Matthew Tipton, Ryan Sugden and Paul Beavers. Jason Koumas and Black also went close to increasing Tranmere’s lead. Athletic equalised 10 minutes into the second half when Jordan Tait found the net with a low shot as he capitalised on a defensive error by Richard Hinds. The winner, on the hour, came about when Futcher put through his own goal with a sliced clearance from Black’s shot. Alex Hay headed over for Tranmere when he should really have added a third. It nearly proved costly as Athletic substitute Darren Wardle and Tipton failed to hit the target from good positions. Tranmere should have wrapped it up in injury time when substitute Perry Taylor was put through by Koumas only for Miskelly to make an excellent stop. 

Athletic: Miskelly, Tait, Innes, Futcher, Graham, P Jones, Karhu, Walsh (Boshell 71), Beavers, Tipton, Sugden (Wardle 75). Subs (not used): Campbell, Gardiner, McLaughlin.

NEW LATICS SCHEME TO BENEFIT JUNIOR CLUBS

OLDHAM Athletic and junior clubs in the area are forging closer ties.

The youth development department at Boundary Park are promoting a scheme where children from junior clubs get free access to a number of home games.

The scheme was born during a meeting between Athletic chairman David Brierley, chief executive Alan Hardy and outgoing Boundary Park Juniors chairman Joe Gibson.

Forty clubs are involved, split equally into four groups. Tickets are distributed on a rota basis, with clubs receiving 20 tickets every fourth home match.

Boundary Park Juniors under-11s were one of the first clubs to benefit from the initiative when 20 youngsters enjoyed Athletic’s 3-0 win over Brentford. Mr Hardy said: “We feel it’s important to have a close relationship with junior clubs and that’s why we’ve come up with this idea. Hopefully, we can get kids to come to Boundary Park on a regular basis, because we want them to build an affinity with Oldham Athletic from an early age.

“And, of course, any player Oldham Athletic can gain through this initiative will be of long-term benefit to the club.”

A further extension to the bond between local juniors and Athletic is the setting up of two weekend coaching courses for managers and coaches. These sessions will be supervised by Athletic’s head youth team coach, David Cross, and will take place during the summer.

CLARETS chief Stan Ternent has quashed rumours linking him with a possible move for Bradford City striker Gareth Grant. And the Turf Moor boss is not expected to step up his interest in defender James Hindmarch either after the trialist played in the reserves' 1-0 defeat at Port Vale last night. Grant's name has come in the frame after Ternent missed out on a loan deal for Bristol City's Tony Thorpe last week. But though the Burnley chief has been to watch the Bantams recently, he doesn't appear to be ready to make a swoop for Grant on loan. "Just because I went to Bradford people have automatically assumed I'm after this lad," said Ternent. "But I've never heard of him." However, Ternent is never one to reveal his hand whenever there's any speculation. And with him looking to create extra competition for places up front in the absence of the injured Alan Lee, then a move for Grant cannot be totally ruled out. The 19-year-old has made one substitute's appearance for Bradford in the Premiership this season. But with City boss Paul Jewell looking for a more experienced striker to help lift the club out of relegation trouble, Grant may be allowed to follow Isaiah Rankin, who yesterday joined Birmingham City, out of Valley Parade on a temporary basis.Regarded as a highly promising player and a regular goalscorer at reserve-team level, Grant is quick and skilful on the ball. However, whether he would fit the bill for Ternent's needs as he looks to get the Clarets' promotion drive firing on all cylinders again, remains to be seen. But one player who won't be joining the Clarets promotion push is Hindmarch. The central defender is currently on trial at Turf Moor from a club Austria having played in the South of France. But, despite a run out with the reserves last night, Ternent won't be pursuing his interest. Meanwhile, Ternent has warned that the boo boys aren't helping the club's play-off push. Burnley kick-off a run of five vital home games against in-form Oldham on Saturday before promotion rivals Bristol Rovers, Wigan, Gillingham and Preston North End roll into town between now and March 4. But Ternent and his side came in for some flak when being held to a draw by struggling Chesterfield last Saturday. And the manager fears the players' confidence could be undermined if that is repeated. He said: "They were grumbling on Saturday because of our second-half performance. "They have a right to do that but it could have an adverse effect on the players and it certainly frustrates me because I feel I am doing alright and I feel the side is doing alright. "I ask the supporters for their understanding and their backing because as I have said on many occasions they are like an extra man for us. "They pay their money and they are entitled to their opinion. "But they are an integral part of Burnley Football Club and I think they ought to realise - and it's only a minority - that if they continue to do things like that it will certainly have an adverse effect, in my view."

Steve Davis and Micky Mellon will return to the Burnley line-up on Saturday and Gordon Armstrong will be fit to resume at left-back in place of the suspended Tom Cowan. Glen Little is also banned but John Mullin is expected to be fit after a bout of flu and should replace the wing man. That would leave Paul Weller, Lenny Johnrose and possibly Paul Smith to contest the remaining midfield berth on the left-hand side. The Latics, whose winning run was ended by an extra-time golden goal in their Auto Windscreens Shield defeat to Stoke City on Tuesday night, are expected to be at full strength as they look to continue their climb up the Second Division.

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 Official Tranmere Rovers Web site Tranmere reserves grabbed their fifth Pontins League win of the season last night with a 2-1 triumph over Oldham at Prenton Park. The win keeps Ray Mathias' second string in touch with the chasing pack in the table with Port Vale six points clear. Michael Black fired Tranmere into the lead after 11 minutes when he raced away on the left flank before advancing into the area and chipping a curling shot over Latics keeper David Miskelly and into the corner of the net.

Oldham came out after the interval in confident mood and levelled in the 55th minute when Jordan Tait capitalised on a mistake by Richard Hinds to fire an unstoppable drive from the edge of the box past Eric Nixon. Tranmere grabbed the lead back four minutes later when Oldham full back Ben Futcher directed a weak Michael Black shot past his own keeper and into the net. Alex Hay almost netted a third for Tranmere in the 77th minute and Oldham substitute Dave Wardle came close to an equaliser. Perry Taylor was denied a goal within six minutes of entering the fray when Miskelly produced a fine stop to deny the young striker.

Tranmere: Nixon, Holmes, Thompson (Aldridge 75), Hinds, Sharps, Frail, Black (Taylor 82), Koumas, Hay, Gibson, L Jones.
Subs not used: Baker, Evans, Thornton. 

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 Contributions and letters should be sent to Gary Davies by e-mail at [email protected]The views expressed on this e-zine are not the views of Oldham Athletic F.C. nor necessarily the views of the EditorThe editor will not publish any letters containing bad languageThis e-zine is written using Microsoft Outlook Express

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