Latics bag a Trophy boost

WHAT A BEAUTY . . . Lee Erwin scores Athletic's second goal at the Highbury Stadium

THERE will be sterner tests to come, but at least Athletic's strike pairing picked up a confidence boost by putting Fleetwood to the sword.

Billy Mckay, without a goal since netting in the previous game in this competition against Carlisle, repeated the trick with a neat finish to put Stephen Robinson's side ahead.

The on-loan Wigan man also hit a post, after fellow forward Lee Erwin had put Athletic two-up with an emphatic finish.

It was Erwin's second for the club, thundered home with his left foot to add to the one he netted in a losing cause against Shrewsbury.

The victory means Athletic will qualify for the knock-out stages of the much-maligned Checkatrade Trophy if they beat Blackburn's under-21s next month in the last Group 'D' clash.

Athletic made three changes from the side beaten at home by MK Dons, two of which were enforced by international call-ups for Cameron Dummigan and Ryan McLaughlin.

In came Brian Wilson and Carl Winchester for the Northern Ireland under-21s pair, with Erwin preferred to Freddie Ladapo up front.

Fleetwood attracted a crowd of only 392 for their last outing at home in this competition against Blackburn's under-21s side - a game priced at £20 a ticket - and at kick-off, the swathes of empty seats and terraces gave this contest the feel of a pre-season friendly.

The task for Robinson's side was to inject some energy into the sterile atmosphere.

And Winchester in particular ­- on his first start of the campaign ­- had a point to prove.

Fleetwood started the contest the zippier, more dangerous side.

Marytn Woolford saw an early effort come off Cameron Burgess and deflect not far over the top and then on six minutes, neat inter-play saw Michael Duckworth presented with a chance only eight yards out. On his left foot, the right-back sliced wastefully wide.

Failing to hit the target was a theme for Uwe Rosler's side. Striker Alex Jakubiak saw his effort take a nick off an Athletic defender before heading off-target and in the 27trh minute, a high-quality pass from Bobby Grant landed perfectly at the feet of left-back Kieran Wallace. On his favoured left foot, his finish wide of the near post was another poor one.

Up to the opening goal after 32 minutes, Athletic had passed the ball fairly competently in the middle third without threatening Chris Neal in the home goal.

Up stepped Ryan Flynn. Riding a challenge and accelerating away from his marker, the midfielder raced into the area and kept his calm to feed Mckay who had pulled away into a clever position. In the clear on the left of the penalty area, his right-footed shot back across goal was emphatic.

It was Athletic's first shot on target of the game.

The ball hitting the net was greeted with a large roar from the band of around 100 fans who had made the journey through rush-hour M62 traffic.

And they soon had another to shout about.

This time, strike partner Erwin registered for the second time this term. It was another very well-taken effort as well.

Taking the ball into his feet just outside the area on the right, he shimmied and put the ball onto his favoured left foot, creating a yard of space and hammering beyond the dive to his right of Neal.

It was the first time Athletic had managed two first-half goals since the 4-2 home loss to Scunthorpe a year ago, when under the charge of David Dunn.

Early substitute Devante Cole pulled a shot wide when slipped beyond Burgess down the right and at the other end, defensive hesitancy allowed Wilson to rob possession. His low centre was directed on to the near post as Mckay darted across his man and volleyed towards goal.

Erwin was prominent again in the opening moments of the second half, holding off defenders on the right before drifting infield to latch onto a Flynn flick and shoot wide from 25 yards.

Soon after, the on-loan Leeds man hit the advertising boards behind the goal with another attempt off-target.

Athletic were passing the ball across the field to and fro with impunity as Rosler urged his charges to close down.

And from a corner kick on 55 minutes Robinson's men struck the frame of goal again. This time, Burgess planted his head well with Winchester's centre and was unlucky not to score.

Heavily involved, Winchester then nodded over when arriving late into the box from the lively Flynn's delivery.

Robinson felt comfortable enough to make two changes, introducing Lee Croft and Ollie Banks for Winchester and Paul Green respectively, as Athletic advanced towards the £10,000 prize money on offer for every group-stage win in this competition.

Woolford forced Ripley into his first stop of note in the 83rd minute, but after overcoming a slightly sticky opening this was plain sailing for Athletic on the Fylde coast.

IN A NUTSHELL: Two goals from the strikers saw Athletic cruise home.