No way through for bright Latics

Photo: Anthony Miller

IN THE THICK OF THE ACTION . . . Paul Green with a near-miss for Athletic, while Aaron Amadi-Holloway (inset) gets to grips with a United rival.

ENERGETIC and bright and dominant in terms of the balance of scoring chances, Athletic rounded off pre-season with a harsh but meaning-free 1-0 defeat to Manchester United's under-23s.

Of course, manager John Sheridan would have preferred to see the net bulge when Paul Green mangled two huge chances early on. Or indeed for one of the myriad shots at goal to have travelled a foot inside rather than outside the post.

But while United won this contest thanks to Callum Gribbin's 77th-minute strike - one he appeared to hurt himself in the act of celebrating - Athletic's squad as a collective appears to have within it various workable and full-fit options for the coming season.

That is, other than in terms of goalkeepers. Here, free agent Kyle Letheren - who trained with the club earlier in the summer - played in the second half after Cardiff's 24-year-old Ben Wilson, who was on loan at Rochdale last season, turned out in the first 45 minutes.

Neither had much to do, other than Letheren being well-beaten by Gribbin's powerful left-footed shot from within the penalty area.

Sheridan named a strong-looking XI for the opening half, with a bench packed with youth team players. Clearly, the idea was not to overburden first-teamers with the opening league game against Oxford only four days away. For United's under-23s, there were three players with first-team experience at Old Trafford on show: defenders Demetri Mitchell and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and striker James Wilson.

Athletic operated with a diamond midfield in front of a back four, with Ollie Banks at its base and Ryan McLaughlin in behind the front two.

SUPERBLY
Craig Davies saw an early header superbly tipped over by United's well-worked Kieran O'Hara in the fourth minute before Green blazed over when attacking a cross from 10 yards out.

Mitchell - who played against LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake while on tour this summer with United's first team - was a classy presence at left-back, but the visitors were regularly overpowered by Athletic.

Davies rolled Borthwick-Jackson before cutting back for McLaughlin to force a hurried low stop from O'Hara; then, Rob Hunt's swinging cross from the left defeated O'Hara in flight but with the busy Davies unable to turn back into an empty goal while stretching.

How Athletic didn't score after 35 minutes was a mystery. McLaughlin's drive was pushed away by O'Hara but as Aaron Amadi-Holloway cut back, it looked easier to score than scuff wide for Green, who was this time barely six yards out.

For the second half, Athletic made a raft of changes and United gained a foothold.

Winger Gyamfi Kyeremeh, who impressed against Girona last Thursday, was sharp again on the left flank for Athletic and he teed up Amadi-Holloway for a shot on the turn shortly before the hour that whizzed no more than a yard wide.

From the other flank, trialist Cameron Stewart's clever effort from 30 yards threatened to dip in but for O'Hara's tip-over on the back-pedal.

Substitute Mason Fawns skidded an effort no more than a foot wide before Gribbin who went close with an earlier sighter, was allowed too much space to strike the visitors in front.

Manager's lad Jay Sheridan forced a solid stop in the 89th minute with a header when arriving at the far post, but Athletic couldn't find a way to break through.

Athletic (first half, 4-1-2-1-2): Ben Wilson; Brian Wilson, Clarke, Gerrard, Hunt; Banks; Green, Fane; McLaughlin; Amadi-Holloway, Davies.

Athletic (second half, 4-4-2): Letheren; Dummigan, Edmundson, Stott, Sheridan; Stewart, Gardner, Flynn, Kyeremeh; Amadi-Holloway (Fawns 64), Davies (Uche 85).

United: O'Hara, Riley (Buffonge 53), Mitchell, Williams (Warren 64), Borthwick-Jackson, Willock, Kehinde, Hamilton, Wilson (Olosunde 46), Gribbin (Scott 80), Dearnley. Sub not used: Richardson.

Referee: Scott Oldham