County reports
Sheridan to sweep?
Bernard Manning Junior in takeover

Ritchie revealed: "Playing John in defence is something we have considered for a few weeks. I spoke to him about it and, good professional that he is, he said he would play wherever I wanted him to." Sheridan won 34 Republic of Ireland caps as a creative midfielder, continuing in a similar vein when he joined Athletic last season. He has experience, always finds time on the ball and reads the game well three of the most important assets any good sweeper needs. The defensive side of being the spare man in a back five need not necessarily be high on the agenda. Athletic fans with long memories will recall Tony Henry - a player from a very similar mould - converting successfully in the mid1980s.

After seeing an improvement in his team's performance last night, Ritchie is likely to stick with the continental-style defensive formation. That would mean a three-man midfield and Athletic already have Mark Innes, Lee Duxbury, Phil Salt and Neil Adams to compete for those places. It was a young Athletic which side which drew 1-1 with Stockport and bowed out of the Worthington Cup 3 -1 on aggregate. They performed with credit in ending the club's losing and goalless sequences, but Ritchie is set to name a more familiar line-up for Saturday's league match at Ox-ford. He said: "The youngsters did well, but in our position you need experience. "At least if we get injuries and some of them need to play, I will have no qualms about putting them in." Paul Beavers, who was left out of the first-team squad because of a lack of fitness, plays for the reserves in tonight's Manchester Senior Cup game against Manchester City at Hyde (7 pm).

Steve Whitehall continues his comeback, Jordan Tait has another chance to impress after making his debut In last night and Mark Allott - scorer of Athletic's first goal of the season - is given another run out. Reserves (from): Mohan, Tait, McLean, Futcher, Hotte, Boshell, Allott, Walsh, Whitehall, Tipton, Beavers, Campbell, Clitheroe, Wharton, Wardle, Johnstone.

COUNTY MATCH REPORT

BREAK out the bunting and light a flame under the fireworks - Athletic have scored a goal. It may not have been a classic and it certainly wasn't enough to prevent them going out of the Worthington Cup at the first stage. But even a starving man doesn't refuse tripe and custard. And, when you've been waiting for 508 minutes, a goal is a goal is a goal. With Stockport 1-0 up and already nursing a 2-0 lead from a fortnight ago, last night's first round, second leg had already become a foregone conclusion when Mark Allott ended the drought shortly before full-time.

Athletic had again allowed opponents to create far too many chances and the aggregate score could easily have been worse. This, though, was an experimental team and, while they hardly produced a performance to set the pulse racing, the many youngsters on show did show hints of promise. Although he insisted that Athletic could still pull off a shock comeback, manager Andy Ritchie made wholesale changes to his starting line-up. Out altogether went Ian McLean and Paul Beavers. Making do with places on the bench were the experienced pair of Gary Kelly and John Sheridan. Ryan Sugden was given his first start, while goalkeeper David Miskelly and defender lain Swan earned their second. With Scott and David McNiven, Andrew Holt, Mark Innes and Phil Salt also in the side - plus Allott. Matthew Tipton and debutant Jordan Tait on the bench no fewer than 11 of Athletic's 16 were 21 or under.

That really is a remarkable figure and, though one has to be charitable to say those rookies deserved a draw, the display was certainly no worse than those provided so far by the seniors. First division Stockport were confident enough to leave out main strikers Brett Angell and Aaron Wilbraham. They showed a total of seven changes from the game at Edgeley Park. giving both Ian Gray and Tony Ellis the chance to shine against their former club. But. while County's basic gameplan remained the same. Athletic adopted a different approach in their bid to avoid a club record of five successive defeats at the start of a season. After staying loyal to a flat back four in every game so far, Ritchie went back to the sweeper system. And by using Scott McNiven as the spare man between towering centre-backs Swan and Shaun Garnett, the manager added much-needed fluidity to Athletic's play.

It made a welcome change to see wide men Holt and Paul Rickers use their judgement to combine defence and attack. Holt was able to use his aerial power to greater effect, while both players only became out-and-out defenders when the situation demanded. Innes was back at the hub of affairs in midfield, rather than being a peripheral figure wide on the left, and the front men were isolated with much less frequency than before. By no means did Athletic operate the system ideally. If they had, the shot count wouldn't have been 13-6 in the visitors' favour. The real test will come against a team who, unlike Stockport, keep their foot on the pedal for 90 minutes. But it will be interesting to see which way Ritchie goes at Oxford on Saturday - and also whether Sheridan, who surprisingly play sweeper for the last 18 minutes, will soon be making a permanent switch from midfield.

The team changes and tactical tinkering rounding the game turned out to be rather more interesting than the low-key action itself. Stockport were always in control and, in the likely event of their progress being jeopardised looked capable of stepping up a gear at will. The first chance arrived after 34 minutes Miskelly blotted his copybook for the only tin lowing a cross to slip through his hands on the head of Frenchman Laurent D'Jaffo. The £100,000 recruit from Bury was unable control his finish, as was Ellis when presented two half-chances in as many minutes. But, four minutes before the break, County grabbed the goal which effectively sealed Athletics fate and, though there were suspicions of a foul in the build-up, it stemmed from an error by Garnett.

The defender allowed a simple pass to slip underneath his feet and, when Keith Briggs seized session to cross from the right, Colin Woodthorpe was on hand to sidefoot home from six yards. The one consolation for Athletic was that could now try to gel as a team instead of chasing a tie which was clearly out of reach confidence evaporated for a while and Miskelly had to make fine saves from Ellis and Ian Moore but they began to gather themselves after a bad miss from Sugden in the 62nd minute. Finally, five minutes from time, that elusive goal arrived, courtesy of substitute Allott. Neil Adams floated in a corner from the right Garnett flicked on at the near post and Allot the ball out from under his feet before firing past Gray from 10 yards.

It was a consolation, a confidence booster just for the record, a deserved reward for the whose black humour had sustained them thre out a tepid 90 minutes. As for those youngsters, Miskelly proved himself an able deputy goalkeeper, while Swan was a little jittery in defence. Sugden drifted in and out of the game, but Salt's passing from midfield made him a leading candidate for Athletic's man of the match. If nothing else, the experience will do all of them the power of good.

BERNARD MANNING JUNIOR TO TAKE OVER?

The son of controversial comedian Bernard Manning is heading a consortium to take over Oldham Athletic. Bernard Manning jnr and four other business men have already held advanced takeover talks with JW Lees. Mr Manning jnr exclusively told the chronicle: "I am definitely interested, and I have been negotiating with fellow consortium members behind the scenes for around six weeks now. "No firm agreement has been reached with JW Lees Yet, but we will be continuing talks."

But Mr Manning jnr and his consortium, including one local business man, face tough competition from a six-strong group of entrepreneurs. The group, headed by millionaire Latics fan Dominic Grudzien and Glasgow recruitment consultant George Thompson, agreed a price for JW Lees' controlling shares four weeks ago. However, the deal has still not been finalised, leaving the door open for rival bids. Mr Thompson said he was aware of the rival Manning bid but was unavailable to comment further. A spokeswoman for JW Lees said an announcement we imminent but, due to confidentiality agreements, they were unable to say more about the interested parties.

Mr Maiming jnr, who has been chairman at non-league Radcliffe Borough for five years, said: "Nothing has been agreed so I do not want to build up hopes with the fans by saying all the things we want to do. "But when JW Lees indicated they were willing to sell I think It awakened a wish to be involved in a professional club. I have never taken it this far with anyone else. "I have reasonable experience in non league-football I know it's different with a professional club but it's not as if l do not know about the workings of a football club. Mr Manning jnr, who is actually a Manchester City fan, said: "I wouldn't call myself an Oldham fanatic but I would be if this goes through."

He said the group was also hoping that the new Sport Park 2000 would get the go ahead. "if the ground is built, then it will raise the profile of the club. something that hasbeen needed for some time. The Evening Chronicle exclusively revealed in June that JW Lees had put it controlling share on the market. The Middleton Junction brewers own 48 per cent of total shares, totalling around 19,000, with the current board holding 10 per cent. The remaining 42 per cent is spread thinly among hundreds of owners.

Skipper back for Oxford

First goal...at last!