Latics succumb to slick Girona

Photo: Alan Howarth

ON THE RUN: Athletic striker Aaron Amadi-Holloway prepares to shoot against Girona

ATHLETIC suffered a first loss of the pre-season programme, going down 2-1 to a sharp Girona side at SportsDirect.com Park.

A superb early strike by Eloi Amagat and a 15th-minute effort from Aday Benitez did for the hosts, with the La Liga new boys rounding off their Manchester training camp with a win their classy play merited.

Courtney Duffus earned a penalty and scored a consolation from the spot for Athletic right at the death.

Goalkeeper Niklas Bolten was again named in goal for Athletic, this time in front of a back three, with Cameron Dummigan preferred to Ryan McLaughlin at wing-back. McLaughlin was named on the bench along with two new outfield trialists, one of whom was ex-Ipswich man Cameron Stewart, while there was a notable absentee in the shape of reserve defender Kallum Mantack. The full-back is on trial at AFC Telford United and played in a 1-0 win over Shrewsbury 1-0 this week.

BEHIND

Athletic fell behind in only the second minute. The offside trap was sprung by the smart movement of ex-Middlesbrough striker Cristhian Stuani and as he cut back inside, claiming a trip in the box with a theatrical fall to ground, Girona skipper Amagat advanced onto the loose ball to shape a beautiful right-footed shot back across goal, beyond the flailing right arm of Bolten and into his top-right corner.

The advantage was doubled on 15 minutes. One of a number of successful raids down the left flank resulted in a cross met by the head of Stuani, whose low header was well saved by Bolten only for Benitez to hammer in the rebound from point-blank range.

Ollie Banks hammered a 30-yard shot not far wide as Athletic hauled themselves back into a contest up to then dominated by midfield duo Amagat and Andres Romero.

Sheridan made changes to personnel and formation for the second half, fetching on McLaughlin at right-back, Tope Obadeyi on the left flank and the two trialists, with Duffus was also introduced.

The unidentified number 17 was sharp on the turn in buzzing around various midfield roles, with Stewart the quieter of the pair wide on the right.

Duffus controlled with his back to goal and connected well with a shot on the turn just after the hour as Athletic probed to get back into the contest, before Obadeyi's cross threatened to embarrass goalkeeper Jose Garcia at his near post, before he scooped the ball out with his right arm.

The lively Duffus won his late penalty thanks to persistence in chasing down a loose ball and was hauled down by Kiko Olivas, sending Garcia the wrong way from the spot to make it two goals in as many pre-season showings.



Athletic (first half, 3-5-2): Bolten; Edmundson, Clarke, Gerrard; Dummigan, Banks, Fane, Flynn, Hunt; Amadi-Holloway, Davies.

Athletic (second half, 4-4-2): Bolten; McLaughlin, Clarke, Gerrard, Hunt; Stewart, Banks (Fawns 68), Fane, Obadeyi; Trialist, Duffus.

Girona (first half): J Garcia, Bernardo (Maxi 33), Ramalho, Alcala, Granell, Amagat, Benitez, Andres (Pons 33), Clotet (Olivas 33), Stuani, B Garcia.

Girona (second half): Gorka, Ramalho (Alcala 61), Bernardo, Olivas, Portu, Pons, Boulaya, Andres, Maxi, Amagat (Clotet 61), Benitez (Granell 61).