20th November 2000  

Sheridan set for comeback

ATHLETIC could launch a new raid on the transfer market after hearing that winger Neil Adams will be out until next year. A specialist has confirmed that Adams, who was injured in last week’s league game at Stoke, faces at least two months on the sidelines. The veteran suffered ligament damage to his right knee and will have intensive treatment before returning for tests in January. Athletic have no natural replacement on the right-hand side and may now start searching for a new recruit, possibly on loan. After five wins in seven games, manager Andy Ritchie wants to keep his tactic of using two attacking players on the flanks. Mark Allott is filling in at present, but the striker is unlikely to be seen as a long-term solution. Though Athletic have a surplus of midfield men, none provide the same service as Adams as an out-and-out winger. 

Finances are tight at Boundary Park but, with the busy Christmas programme in mind, there could be scope to sign someone as cover. Having beaten non-league Hednesford on Saturday, Athletic were hoping for a kind draw in the second round of the FA Cup. Progress to round three, when Premiership and first-division clubs enter the competition, brings the chance of a much-needed money-spinner. Instead, Ritchie’s men face a difficult trip to either Mansfield or Peterborough, who were locked together at 1-1 on Saturday. They meet again at Peterborough next week, with the winners entertaining Athletic on Saturday, December 9. Ritchie admitted: “It’s very important for us to reach the third round and get a good financial boost. “If we can get through, I’m sure the directors will be hoping for a big club - hopefully away from home. “And as always everyone at the club wants to get as far as possible. A cup run can be good for confidence.” 

IT had all the ingredients for a first-round shock, but Athletic’s FA Cup tie at Hednesford went to form . . . eventually. After a rip-roaring game and plenty of scares for the league side, it was the Conference club who were dragged out of the competition kicking and screaming. As one would expect, Hednesford gave all they could to stay involved after Athletic hit goals at the start of each half. In fact, when former Boundary Park man Neil Pointon — who else? — smacked a fairytale equaliser, his old club faced a nightmare scenario. But Athletic were professional enough to avoid any indignity, as well as having the bonus of seeing Carlo Corazzin end his 10-match scoring drought. And they reached the second round with the least convincing performance of their impressive recent run. There was a big gulf between the sides, but Athletic’s display wasn’t consistent enough to expose it fully. Their passing was short of fluency, while they were unable to release Craig Dudley, whose pace would have ripped the home defence to shreds. They allowed themselves to become embroiled in a battle when quality and experience might have raised them above it. And the defence was felled by two sucker-punches as Hednesford kept the tie at boiling point for most of the 90 minutes.

Athletic made hard work of it and, until the fourth goal arrived in stoppage time, a replay was distinctly possible. But the bottom line is that they made it through. In the circumstances, that has to be judged a success. There were no outstanding individuals, although midfielder Tony Carss made some bone-crunching tackles and Lee Duxbury continued his productive run. Athletic merely did enough against a Hednesford team whose Achilles heel — frail defending — landed them in as much trouble in the cup as it does in the league. A confident start was even more vital than usual. And it took Athletic only four minutes to snatch the lead. Dudley was chopped down outside the box and, when the free-kick was drifted in by David Eyres, Duxbury rose unchallenged to guide his header into the top corner from 10 yards. Duxbury’s fifth goal of the season — a surprisingly simple affair given the tension of the tie — helped to settle what few nerves his side had been showing. They were well in control and could have double the lead soon after when Eyres drove an angled shot just wide.

Yet Hednesford, having posed little threat in the preceding 19 minutes, equalised from out of the blue. And the source was almost inevitable. The spadework was done on the right as Stewart Airdrie was carelessly allowed to swing in a cross from the by-line. Athletic failed to clear properly and Pointon hit a 20-yard daisy-cutter which arrowed into the bottom corner, via Gary Kelly’s left-hand post. The home players went bananas, as they were more than entitled to do. They had, after all, tossed a giant slippery skin into the path of the favourites. Athletic went close again through Shaun Garnett, but Hednesford were posing questions of their own, chiefly through livewire winger Airdrie. It had become just what Athletic hoped to avoid — an even, open contest which kept up the pace and expectation of their opponents. They needed a second goal to impose some authority, and that strike arrived after 41 minutes. Dudley was the marksman, cutting inside from the right before exchanging passes with Corazzin. He was on his weaker left foot, but the low 18-yard shot took a crucial deflection to beat ’keeper Mark Gayle, who would otherwise have gathered without problems.

If that was a stroke of luck, Athletic didn’t need any good fortune to net their third, only 17 seconds after the break. This time, Dudley turned provider by getting away down the right and waiting for support to arrive. Corazzin was the first in the box and, with Hednesford looking half-asleep in the middle, the Canadian planted his header beyond Gayle from the edge of the six-yard box. Athletic were cruising but, just as in the first half, the underdogs sprang out of defence to put themselves right back in the game. With 58 minutes on the clock, Airdrie darted past left-back Mark Innes and delivered a low centre across the face of goal. It reached Neil Davis at the far post and Hednesford’s top scorer slid in to crash the ball into the roof of the net. Athletic had a great chance to regain their two-goal lead, only for Eyres to delay too long after a smooth crossfield move prised open the defence.

And they almost paid for it in the 72nd minute when Airdrie again beat the struggling Innes before his cross was scrambled to safety at the last moment. Though Innes was replaced by Andrew Holt, Athletic were still uncertain in the face of some determined attacking. A grandstand finish looked on the cards. Muscular sub Michael Norbury headed wide when he should have done better, while Lee Colkin was also off target from yet another Airdrie cross. That opening, with only four minutes left, alerted Athletic to the very real danger of being pegged back to 3-3. Corazzin and sub Matthew Tipton could have claimed a fourth before Tipton finally put the result beyond doubt in injury time. The young striker, who had just been booked for a bad challenge, ran at an undermanned defence and let fly from well outside the area. His shot flew unerringly into the bottom corner to complete a successful, if rather anxious, afternoon for Athletic.

Hednesford: Gayle, Robinson, Pointon, Lake, Bradley, Cooper (Owen 77), Bonsall (Colkin 69), Sedgemore, Davis, Bagshaw (Norbury 54), Airdrie. Subs (not used): Haran, Goodwin.

Athletic: Kelly, Rickers, Garnett, McNiven, Innes (Holt 72), Allott, Duxbury (Salt 90), Carss, Eyres, Corazzin, Dudley (Tipton 80). Subs (not used): Miskelly, Jones.

ANDY RITCHIE admitted Athletic were no more than “workmanlike” as they launched their FA Cup campaign with a win at Hednesford. Ritchie was disappointed with aspects of the performance, though he accepted that the tie away to non-league opposition was an awkward one. “We were only semi-professional,” the manager said. “I wasn’t happy with the two goals we conceded because we fell asleep for both of them. “You’re always worried when you come under pressure and Hednesford caused us a few flutters when they got it back to 3-2. “They brought all three subs on and it took us a while to get used to their different system. “They caused us a few problems and I think Mark Innes will have learnt a few things about defensive situations. “But it was always going to be a difficult game and we managed to do what we came to do. “And I’m pleased Carlo Corazzin got a goal — he didn’t get back (from World Cup duty in Canada) until Friday morning and he did well to last the game.

“The goals at the start of each half gave us the impetus to go on and win, especially the one after half-time. “We were in control then, but Hednesford managed to get back into it. “We knew they didn’t have a good defensive record, but they do have forwards who can be dangerous and can cause you problems. “It was workmanlike from us, rather than people standing out. But I thought Lee Duxbury was different class. “Matthew Tipton also gave us a lot energy when he came on and Mark Allott deserves a special mention for doing well on the right, which isn’t somewhere he has played a lot. “Overall, we have to pleased because we are through to the next round of the cup.”

When Neil Pointon hit the first goal of his Hednesford career, it rolled back the years for the former Athletic full-back. Pointon scored in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United in 1994, following it with another in the replay, during a 107-match spell at Boundary Park. Now Hednesford’s player-coach, Pointon said: “I was to blame for Oldham’s first goal, so it was nice to go and get one at the other end. “The game could have gone either way in the last 10 minutes, so I think 4-2 might flatter Oldham a bit. “To be fair, we were always chasing the game after we let them score so early on at the start and after half-time. “We gave it our best shot, played some attractive football and I thought we were a credit to the Conference.”

Teamtalk Oldham

John Sheridan's comeback programme reaches it's final phase this week and he has been pencilled in for an upcoming reserve clash. The outing at Stockport County on Wednesday night will be Sheridan's third outing for the alternates of late but with the arrival at the club of David Eyres and Tony Carss the 35-year-old veteran midfielder knows it won't be easy stepping straight back into the side once his fitness is confirmed. Said Sheridan: "It will be even more difficult (to get back in) if we keep winning but I won't expect any special treatment."

The Latic kids followed in the footsteps of the senior side by posting an impressive FA youth cup victory at Boundary Park.
The 4-1 victory over Port Vale in the AXA sponsored event sees the youngsters face either Brentford or Brighton whose replay takes place next week. The goals were scored by Scott Vernon (2) and one-a-piece from Mark Donelly and Will Haining. Youth league games are restricted to travelling in and around the North West so a visit to either of the southern venues will be a new professional experience for the kids. 

Official Oldham Athletic Web Site

Oldham Rugby Club's prestige friendly against touring side South Sydney went ahead yesterday after an early morning pitch inspection at Boundary Park. Athletic Ground Director Peter Chadwick and Chief Executive Alan Hardy were anxious that the game go ahead, despite serious concerns over the saturated pitch. They were at the ground early, with rugby Chairman Chris Hamilton, to ensure that everything possible was being done to stage the rugby club's first friendly of the new campaign. Mr Chadwick said "We are very aware of how important the game was, not only to Oldham, but the rugby league. This was the first game of the tour and a great deal of work had gone into getting the game here in Oldham". "The rugby club were naturally keen to see the game proceed, after all their efforts, and we wanted to do everything possible to help support their big day".

Mr Chadwick is hopeful that the forecast of sunny spells and light showers will enable the ground staff to prepare the pitch adequately for the Millwall game on Saturday. He is also planning a verti-draining exercise, the second in a month, to ensure the pitch has the best possible chance of drying out. Mr Hamilton, who was unavailable for comment this morning, was known to be delighted with the effort of the football club to stage the game and is anxious the Athletic officials receive due praise for their understanding of what was a difficult and delicate decision.

Latics players watched the FA Cup second round draw on TV in the Hednesford club house following Saturday's cup victory. There was little reward however for the thereforeto victory as they found themselves on their travels again with a difficult trip to either Mansfield or Peterborough on the 9th December. Manager Andy Ritchie said "It could have been better and whoever we face it will be a difficult hurdle for us to overcome". Mansfield and Peterborough drew 1-1 on Saturday and the replay is at Peterborough's London Road ground on Tuesday 28th November. Chief Executive Alan Hardy was also disappointed with the draw, he said "It means another away day for the fans and it would have been nice to have had a home draw particularly with Christmas just around the corner. However the fans are compensated a little with a short trip to Bury the following Saturday in the League".