23rd September 1999
23rd September 1999 ANDY RITCHIE was today assessing Athletic's injury victims, with striker Steve Whitehall and Shaun Garnett still giving cause for concern. There was brighter news, however, concerning Stuart Thom and Richard Graham following reserve-team appearances against Stockport last night. Whitehall limped out of the defeat at Bristol Rovers with an ankle injury. Fortunately, it isn't the same ankle which has given the striker so much grief since he joined Athletic in the summer of 1998. But, apart from a twist, it is feared that Whitehall has also damaged a muscle above the joint and he looks a big doubt for Saturday's league game at Reading.
Garnett, meanwhile, is still complaining of soreness as he is troubled by an abdominal strain. A scan has shown no major damage, but the central defender's injury is causing concern. Thom, who starred at Bristol Rovers, played 45 minutes in the reserves against Stockport last night as he bids to regain sharpness after his lay-off with a broken toe. Graham came through his 80-minute appearance unscathed and Ritchie says he is back in the first-team reckoning for the Reading game. Ritchie is pleased with Graham's progress after an absence of almost nine months through knee trouble. Craig Dudley is not injured despite appearing to be limping towards the end of last night's reserve-team match. Ritchie said he was suffering from cramp having seen only 45 minutes of reserve-team action for Chesterfield during a one-month loan spell.
The Athletic manager is annoyed, claiming the young striker could have had five reserve games here had he stayed. "The loan move was probably detrimental to Craig, especially from a fitness point," declared Ritchie. Reading, Athletic's opponents on Saturday, almost claimed the Premiership scalp of Bradford City last night in the Worthington Cup. They lost on the away-goal rule after last night's game at the Madejski Stadium finished 2-2 after extra time (aggregate 3-3). Athletic will play Preston at home on Tuesday, October 5 in the first round of the Lancashire FA Youth Cup.
ATHLETIC RES 1, STOCKPORT RES 0
ATHLETIC made a winning start to their Pontins League Cup campaign last night thanks to a superb strike from 18-year-old Darren Wardle. The striker made the most of his rare chance in the reserves with a strong performance and his eighth goal in eight games this season. It was a deserved victory for Athletic, who will now be confident of progressing through the round-robin stage. Also in good form were midfield man Mark Innes, centre-back Mark Hotte and the returning Craig Dudley, who was a menace from right wing-back and never afraid to run with the ball. Athletic should have gone ahead after 18 minutes when Richard Graham fired over from Stuart Thom’s flick. Wardle also wasted a chance after Dudley’s pinpoint long pass, but he made no mistake in the 31st minute with a first-time volley from Graham’s cross which flew into the top corner from 18 yards. Wardle, who compensates for a lack of pace with his ability to hold the ball, brought a good save from Stockport’s former Athletic goalkeeper, Ian Gray, who also tipped over Ryan Sugden’s header. Athletic ‘keeper Jamie Campbell preserved the lead with fine second-half stops from County’s experienced front two of Tony Ellis and Brett Angell.
ATHLETIC: Campbell, Dudley, McLean, Swan, Thom (Futcher 55), Hotte, Graham (Clitheroe 72), Boshell, Wardle (D McNiven 72), Sugden, Innes. Subs (not used): Mohan, Wharton.