Dudley slams home winner

STOKE CITY RES 0, ATHLETIC RES 1

CRAIG DUDLEY was Athletic’s matchwinner as they came away from Newcastle Town’s velodrome home with three points following last night’s Pontins League clash, The 20-year-old wing-back joined the attack to fire home the only goal of the game — a spectacular effort from outside the penalty area. The lively David McNiven created the initial trouble as he ran at the Stoke defence. The ball ran loose and Dudley, backing up, produced a screaming drive which arrowed into the top corner. It was a strike worthy of winning any match and, on reflection, Athletic had the edge in what was an uninspiring contest. Dudley’s drive was the only on-target effort in a disappointing opening period, though McNiven had a couple of electrifying bursts as he ran at the Stoke defence which always looked uneasy when he was in possession. Athletic had three excellent chances to increase their lead in the second half. McNiven’s close-range effort was spectacularly saved and the same player was unlucky again in the final minute as his shot cleared the crossbar. Ben Futcher also went close as a looping header from a free kick hit the back stanchion. Athletic ‘keeper David Miskelly had so little to do it was fortunate he didn’t leave the field suffering from frost bite on a chilly night. Stoke rarely threatened, though Neil MacKenzie wasted a great chance to equalise, shooting wide with the goal at his mercy. Athletic defended well, with captain Mark Hotte having a fine match as he marshalled the back line with the authority of a seasoned campaigner. At the opposite end, McNiven did enough to merit serious consideration for a first-team recall.

Athletic: Miskelly, Dudley, Swan, Hotte, Futcher, McLean, Boshell, Walsh (Wardle 66), D McNiven, Sugden (Wharton 66), Innes. Subs (not used): Campbell, Clitheroe, Roberts.

Switch proves just the tonic

IF a poll was held tomorrow to find Athletic’s player of the season so far, there would probably be four men vying for the title. Goalkeeper Gary Kelly has been consistently excellent, striker Mark Allott has shown improved form to notch four goals in seven games and John Sheridan continues to prove that the sands of time is no barrier to class. The man who has delighted Athletic the most, however, is Scott McNiven, a defender who has started to come of age since his early-season switch from right-back to central defender. McNiven — a veteran of more than 100 games despite being only 21 — doesn’t necessarily catch the eye as he goes about his business at the back. His style is one of no fuss, little bother and even less of the bluster one often sees from players in his position. That, though, is a hallmark of someone who knows his job. And, more than four years since making his League debut as a 16-year-old, McNiven is beginning to fulfil the potential it was always clear he possessed. He knows it, too, and believes the change of scenery has been a major influence. “I’m probably in the best form of my career,” McNiven said. “I couldn’t really say why, but I’m definitely more focused and confident in what I’m doing. “I’ve never played much in the middle before, so it’s all new to me and I’m having to learn. “I was playing pretty well at right-back, though, and that has just been carried across. “It’s a lot different in the middle, but I’m enjoying it. You are more involved and you have to talk a lot more, which helps with that focus. “When you put together a few good games, it helps you put together a few more. “I’m also quite experienced now and, because I’ve managed to steer clear of injuries, I’ve played more games than a lot of people my age.”

McNiven was thrust into senior action at the end of the 1994/95 season and made such an impact that, within a year, he had been called into Scotland’s under-21 squad. Qualification came via his father, David, who also played at that level, but Scott’s delight soon turned to despair. After coming on as a substitute against San Marino, he was sent off for two bookable offences and never earned the call again. “Although it was great to represent Scotland and a very proud moment, I ended up feeling disappointed,” he recalled. “But I never felt any extra pressure from playing League football so young. “There was an injury crisis, I got a chance earlier than expected and I just stayed in the squad from there on.” The progress of McNiven — who is six minutes older than twin brother David — wasn’t always so rapid. In fact, he suffered a spell in the doldrums until rediscovering his confidence last season. He said: “I’ve had three managers since I got into the side and things have tended to change with each one. “I enjoyed my football under Graeme Sharp, but then Neil Warnock came in and altered things a bit. “He wanted us to play differently and it wasn’t the best of times for me, or for a few of the other lads. “Now that Andy Ritchie has come in, he has got us playing football again. “We always play decent stuff, even if we don’t get the results to show for it.” While McNiven has also been tried in midfield, recent evidence suggests he has now found his most suitable position. His relative lack of height could make it difficult to play in the middle of a four-man defence, but he is perfectly at home as the spare man in a sweeper system. “I just pick up the pieces and give as much cover as I can,” he said. “Richard Graham and Stuart Thom are doing the marking jobs at the moment and the three of us are doing our best to work together. “We do a lot of shadow work in training so we can get to know each other’s games better and work as a unit. “Personally, I’m comfortable taking the ball off the ‘keeper and starting things from the back. “That gives you more options when you don’t have the biggest strikers. “ And, rather than trying to feed off the bits from a long ball, it means we can play the way we are all aiming to play — with a passing style which allows us to control our games and start picking up the points.”

Frizzell: ‘Walter was an honest man and had a tremendous enthusiasm about the game’

THE recent death of Walter Joyce not only meant Athletic lost one of their most popular former employees, but it also robbed football of one of its greatest mentors. Walter, who died at 62, discovered and nurtured some of the game’s biggest stars as a coach and scout for a number of north-west clubs. He was a good friend of Athletic head coach Bill Urmson, who paid the warmest of tributes. He said: “I never had the privilege of working with Walter, but we knew each other very well and he did a lot for football. “He helped many youngsters and there was no-one better at getting the best out of them, which is a craft in itself.” Former Athletic manager Jimmy Frizzell played and coached alongside Walter at Boundary Park . He added: “Walter was an honest man and had a tremendous enthusiasm about the game. “We had a long chat two weeks ago and Walter wanted the game to go back to what it was in his playing days.” Oldham-born Walter began his career at Burnley when the Turf Moor club was at its peak. He joined Blackburn in 1964 before signing for Athletic three years later. Playing as a wing-half, he made 71 appearances for Athletic and scored two goals. He was promoted to the coaching staff at the age of 32 and remained at Boundary Park until Rochdale invited him to become their manager in 1973. Walter’s time at Spotland began appallingly as Rochdale managed only two wins in 46 games to set a third-division record which still stands. But he stayed for two more seasons before moving to Bolton, as assistant manager, Preston as coach, and Bury as a scout. Illustrating the respect in which he was held, he had most recently been working for Manchester United as head of recruitment in the north-west region. Walter leaves a wife, Doreen, a daughter and two sons. Warren is currently manager of Hull City, while Wayne trains the up-and-coming players at Bury.