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BOUNDARY
BULLET-zine
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Today's
Edition for
24th February 2000
Today's Headlines
Reserves
beaten
Allott
to train but Sheridan still out
Oldham
Evening Chronicle
Allott
set to give Athletic a boost
MARK
ALLOTT could be about to give Athletic some cheer on the injury front. Manager
Andy Ritchie is hoping the 21-year-old striker will be able to resume training
next week. Allott, Athletic’s 11-goal leading scorer, has missed the last
three matches with a torn hamstring. He was hurt early in the home win
against Oxford late last month, a massive blow as Allott was in a rich
vein of form. There was further good
news with John Sheridan expected to resume training today. Sheridan has
missed the last three matches after also being hurt in the game against
Oxford.
The
midfield player has had a neck problem similar to whiplash after being
caught by his own goalkeeper, Gary Kelly, who was punching a clearance.
Ritchie added that it is too early to say what Sheridan’s prospects are
for Saturday’s home game against Bristol Rovers. “We
will see how John does in the next couple of days, but he will ultimately
decide whether he is fit to play,” he explained.
Athletic
reserves, meanwhile, were playing at Huddersfield Town this afternoon in
a rearranged Pontins League match. Stuart Thom and Phil Salt were continuing
their comebacks after injury. Central-defender Thom broke his collarbone
in October, while Salt has also been out for a lengthy period following
ankle surgery. Ritchie was disappointed
last week’s reserve-team match was postponed as it denied the pair much-needed
match practice. Scott McNiven, banned for Saturday’s match at Wrexham,
will be given half a game, while Mark Innes and Danny Walsh will also get
45 minutes as all three are likely to feature in this weekend’s squad. There
will be a reserve-team debut for central defender Alex Rock who is a second-year
trainee. Ben Smith, also a second-year player, gets another chance to impress
at left wing-back. Reserves: Miskelly, S McNiven, Smith, Thom, Futcher,
Rock, Salt, Innes, Sugden, Beavers, Boshell. Subs: Walsh, McLaughlin, Wardle,
Roberts, Gardiner.
From
Yesterdays Chronicle
Sheridan
still major doubt
INJURY-HIT
John Sheridan again rates as a major doubt for Athletic’s home clash with
Bristol Rovers on Saturday. The 35-year-old
midfield man is still struggling with a neck problem and could be forced
to sit out a fourth consecutive match. A collision with goalkeeper Gary
Kelly, who caught him while punching a cross during the Oxford game last
month, left Sheridan with injuries which are similar to whiplash. A
visit to a specialist revealed no serious damage, but Sheridan remains
in pain and his movement is being restricted. Athletic
are keen to bring back their key player against a Rovers side looking good
for automatic promotion. But they can’t afford to take any risks as fellow
midfielder Lee Duxbury, who has collected five bookings this season, will
be missing from the following game, at Bury.
A
new date has been agreed for the home league match against Wigan, which
was postponed this week due to Wigan’s international call-ups. It will
now be played on Tuesday, April 11, with a 7.45pm kick-off.
Athletic
are coming to the aid of cash-strapped neighbours Stalybridge Celtic by
playing them in a friendly next month. Stalybridge
have had financial problems since dropping from the Conference to the Unibond
League and are organising a series of fund-raising events. The two clubs
have a close relationship as Athletic used to play their reserve-team games
at Bower Fold. Athletic will visit on
Wednesday, March 8 (7.45), and hope to include some first-team players
in their squad.
Teamtalk
Oldham
Sheridan
update
John Sheridan
is struggling to be ready for Saturday's game against Bristol Rovers at
Boundary Park. The veteran midfielder is a major doubt with a neck problem
and looks set to miss his fourth game in succession. A collision with Gary
Kelly, who caught him whilst punching a cross, left the 35 year old with
injuries similar to those suffered by a whiplash victim. X-rays have shown
there is no serious damage but Sheridan is still in pain and has restricted
movement. Andy Ritchie is keen to bring back an influential player but
can't take any risks with Lee Duxbury missing from next week's game at
Bury. He has picked up five bookings this season and so will be forced
to sit out for a match and so it is hoped that Sheridan will be ready to
resume by then.
Stalybridge
help
The Latics
are coming to the aid of cash-strapped Stalybridge Celtic by playing them
in a friendly next month. Stalybridge have had financial problems since
dropping from the Conference to the Unibond League and are organising a
series of fund raising events. The two clubs have a close relationship
as the Latics used to play their reserve team games at Bower Fold. The
club will therefore return there on Wednesday, March 8th for a game which
should see the Latics field a few first team squad members.
Reserves
beaten comfortably
Huddersfield's
second string beat a young Oldham second string 3-0 this afternoon. Town's
goals came from Rob Edwards with a penalty, Delroy Facey and a spectacular
overhead kick from Simon Baldry. However, Oldham could count themselves
a little unfortunate as they hit the bar through Paul Beavers and had a
goal disallowed.Teamtalk
Huddersfield
Reserves
in creditable win
Town's
reserves beat Oldham 3-0 this afternoon and gave a debut to African trialist,
Emmanuel Kaffour who looked useful. Kaffour has been training with Town
since he returned from African Nations Cup duty with Ghana where he caught
the eye of Lou Macari. He played at wingback this afternoon straying into
midfield on occasion and gave a good account of himself as he continues
to try and prove he is worth a permanent deal. Town's goals came from a
Rob Edwards penalty, Delroy Pacey and a spectacular overhead kick from
Simon Baldry. Oldham hit the bar through Paul Beavers and had a goal disallowed. Teamtalk
Bristol Rovers
Jones
doubtful for Latics clash
Concern
is growing that goalkeeper Lee Jones could be ruled out of Saturday's trip
to Oldham Athletic. Jones has been unable to train for the past few days
because of a back problem and coach Brian Parkin is again on standby. Manager
Ian Holloway wants Parkin to concentrate on his coaching career, but may
have to turn to the 34-year-old again as he has met no success with efforts
to recruit a new understudy for Jones.
ESPN Soccernet Oldham
Athletic are likely to be once again without John Sheridan for the visit
of high-flying Bristol Rovers to Boundary Park. Sheridan is still recovering
from a neck injury which has kept him out of action since last month and
he is unlikely to have recovered in time to play against Rovers. Also missing
will be the suspended Matthew Tipton, who is currently serving a suspension,
which also caused him to miss last week's win at Wrexham. The Latics will
be hoping to build on that 3-0 success which ended a barren run and Rovers
will certainly provide a stern test. Rovers go into their match at Boundary
Park in confident mood after last week's 4-1 win at Luton Town. Manager
Ian Holloway is hoping to stick with the same side that performed so well
at Kenilworth Road as Rovers try to keep up with Preston at the top of
the league. Holloway will have to check on the fitness of goalkeeper Lee
Jones before making the trip to Oldham. Jones has missed training with
a back injury and could be forced out of the match - so Michel Kuipers
is on stand-by to play
Bristol
Evening Post BRISTOL
Rovers are to launch another appeal against the decision not to reinstate
Nigel Pierre’s work permit – and hope that means they can use the Trinidad
striker for at least a month. The club are determined to continue fighting
the young marksman’s case, and that means another hearing in London. And
they now believe that Pierre, pictured, will be allowed to make his debut
and play in the meantime. Director Ron Craig, who has been heavily involved
with the complicated attempt to land the youngster, said: “The permit Nigel
arrived with says he can ply his trade in this country for up to a month.
Now we are waiting for confirmation from the Football League that we can
go ahead and register him. “In the meantime we hope a month should give
us time to gather more evidence – including video evidence – to support
our argument that we have a special player. “Because we had a relatively
short time to sort everything out, it was hard getting everything we needed
for the previous appeal. A lot of the Trinidadian FA have been in America
at the Gold Cup and it was not easy to get the information we needed.”
Boss Ian Holloway
has vowed to maintain the battle to make Pierre a Rovers player – no matter
how long it takes. “He has already inspired some of my older players with
what he has been doing in training and I think he would raise the standard
here,” he said. “I am determined that he will become a Bristol Rovers player,
although I can’t say how long it will take. But I will fight tooth and
nail to get him.” Rovers
are putting Brian Parkin on alert for this weekend’s trip to Oldham in
case Lee Jones fails to recover from a back injury. The Welshman suffered
back spasms after last weekend’s 4-1 win at Luton and Rovers’ physio Phil
Kite said it could be tomorrow before any final decision is made on his
chances. “It has been easing off so we are hopeful, but we will have to
wait and see how Lee feels tomorrow,” he said.
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