31st July 2000   

Festival Victory

ATHLETIC proved themselves the spot-kick kings once again to retain the Isle of Man Festival trophy in a dramatic shoot-out against Bury. Andy Ritchie’s side beat Stockport on penalties to win last year’s competition and lightning struck twice on Saturday after a disappointing final ended in stalemate. However, manager Ritchie had every right to be pleased with his team’s performance after losing skipper Lee Duxbury (cramp) and Shaun Garnett (sore calf) during a second half dominated by Bury. In the final 10 minutes, he even brought on reserve goalkeeper David Miskelly — as an emergency centre-forward. Athletic had the edge in a low-key first half, with Neil Adams testing Bury ‘keeper Paddy Kenny with a stinging volley after 24 minutes and John Sheridan’s free-kick being plucked to safety six minutes later. But it was Athletic who had to endure a sustained spell of pressure from their division two counterparts after the break.

Gary Kelly was the hero, producing a string of top-class saves to deny second-half substitute Paul Barnes. Kelly made a point-blank stop from Barnes within a minute of the restart, while the same man was twice denied after teasing crosses from former Latics players Paul Reid and Adrian Littlejohn. Littlejohn, Bury’s best performer, tormented his old club down the right-hand side during the last half-hour and was involved in the best move of the match with 12 minutes remaining. He drifted past Adams and Paul Jones with ease after breaking from the halfway line, picked out Barnes in the centre and could only watch as the striker fired over from six yards. In the penalty shoot-out, Matthew Tipton, Danny Boshell, Sheridan and Adams all scored for Athletic, with Reid, Barnes, Dean Crowe and Sam Collins converting for Bury.

Miskelly and Dean Barrick saw their efforts saved before Andrew Holt gave Athletic the sudden-death advantage. Appropriately, man-of-the-match Kelly secured the trophy with a superb save from Daws. Ritchie was delighted with the victory, saying: “I thought we controlled the game in the first half, but didn’t play well in the second and hung on thanks to a solid defence and Gary Kelly. “All in all, and considering we never really got going, I am delighted we retained the trophy. We will come back to defend it next year. “I just don’t understand why Miskelly didn’t score from the spot — he gets them all the time in training!” Adams added: “This was a good work-out from a fitness point of view. We have had three tough games and it’s great to win the cup. “I just hope this isn’t the kiss of death. Last year we were unbeaten in our pre-season matches and then made a disappointing start in the league.”

ATHLETIC: Kelly, Jones, Garnett (Boshell 56), Hotte, Adams, Holt, Duxbury (Miskelly 80), Sheridan, Rickers (Innes 67), Allott (Tipton 62), Whitehall (Dudley 70).

ANDY RITCHIE will go into the new season with confidence high after seeing Athletic retain their title at the Isle of Man International Festival. The Boundary Park side beat Bury on penalties in Saturday’s final and the manager was pleased with the strides made during the week-long tournament. Ritchie has also ended his long search for a striker, with Carlo Corazzin’s free transfer from Northampton now being signed and sealed. Corazzin, the 28-year-old Canadian international, met his new team-mates for the first time today as Athletic began their build-up to Sunday’s friendly against Leeds at Boundary Park. Ritchie said: “Penalties are an exciting way to end a match for fans, but it’s not necessarily much fun for the players. “Nevertheless, it’s a great morale booster to win a tournament before the season kicks off. We have a good young squad, coupled with the experience of Lee Duxbury, John Sheridan and Neil Adams. “I’m looking forward to the new season and, if we stay free of injuries, we can have a good crack at securing a play-off spot. The arrival of Carlo is a great boost. He is an experienced international and there is no reason why he can’t score goals for us.” Shaun Garnett picked up a slight calf injury on Saturday, but he is expected to recover before the game against Premiership Leeds. 

OLDHAM beat Bury in a dramatic penalty shoot-out to clinch the Isle of Man International Football Festival final for the second successive year. But both Andy Ritchie and Andy Preece will know their sides have to sharpen up in front of goal before the big kick-off on August 12. Latics triumphed 5-4 on penalties on Saturday after the 90 minutes ended in stalemate. In truth, it was a disappointing end to the exciting pre-season tournament as both sides spurned a succession of glorious opportunities. Oldham had the edge in the opening 45 minutes and looked particularly menacing in the opening exchanges with Neil Adams’ volley from the edge of the box well saved by Paddy Kenny and John Sheridan’s free-kick plucked from under the bar by the Shakers’ number one.

However, Bury took control after the break creating numerous chances with second-half substitute Paul Barnes the main culprit. Four times after the interval he seemed set to score only to find Gary Kelly in inspired form. Kelly denied him within a minute of the re-start after prompting from skipper Nicky Daws and Barnes was also off-target when he failed to connect to inviting crosses from former Latics Paul Reid and Adrian Littlejohn. Littlejohn, Bury’s best performer on the day, tormented his old club down the right hand-side in a one-way second period and he was involved in the best move of the match with 12 minutes remaining. He drifted past Adams and Paul Jones with ease on a surging run from the half-way line before delivering a teasing ball but Barnes spooned the ball over the bar from six yards.

It was a frantic finish for Oldham who lost Shaun Garnett (calf strain) at the start of the second half and skipper Lee Duxbury (cramp) in the final 10 minutes — forcing Ritchie to use his final substitute — reserve keeper David Miskelly in attack. In the shoot-out, Matthew Tipton, Danny Boshell, Sheridan and Adams scored for Latics while Reid, Barnes, Dean Crowe and Sam Collins netted from the spot for Bury. Miskelly and Dean Barrick saw their spot-kicks saved before Holt gave Oldham the sudden-death advantage. And normally reliable Bury skipper Nicky Daws fired his penalty straight at Kelly as Oldham secured victory.

OLDHAM Athletic’s new signing Carlo Corazzin met his team-mates for the first time today and insisted: ‘‘I can’t wait for the season to start.’’ Boss Andy Ritchie has gambled all his transfer budget bringing the Canadian striker to Boundary Park after he failed to agree a new contact with Northampton Town. But he believes the 28-year-old is the vital piece that has been missing from his promotion jigsaw. Ritchie explained: ‘‘Our main failing has been not having a player who can find the net on a regular basis, Carlo has been brought in to put that right. ‘‘We know what this division is all about and it is time we got out of it.’’ Corazzin has a strike-rate of just over a goal every two games and he added: ‘‘I was sold on the ambitions of the club and I know what is expected of me. It is my job to get goals and I am looking forward to the challenge.’’ Corazzin arrived in England seven years ago and has played for Cambridge United, Plymouth Argyle as well as Northampton — and he has been top scorer with all three. One of the problems during month-long negotiations was the player’s international commitment's. Canada are involved in World Cup qualifiers, but English-based players put pressure on their FA bosses to switch games to midweek so they wouldn’t miss too many matches for their clubs in domestic action. They have also agreed to fly them club class on a Sunday and return them on Thursday, in good time for Saturday fixtures. Corazzin, who has won 48 international caps, confirmed: ‘‘I will miss three games for Oldham, but I will be free from international calls by November.’’ Latics chairman David Brierley said: ‘‘The Canadian FA have been very understanding and it has worked out well for us.’’