Philliskirk nets winner as Latics cling on

SCORER: Danny Philliskirk

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ATHLETIC 1, FLEETWOOD 0

DANNY Philliskirk scored for the second time in four days to help Athletic to a first three-point haul of the season.

The 24-year-old pounced on a Rhys Turner flick-on to drive the ball across Chris Maxwell in the 37th minute.

And though Athletic lived on their nerves at times – Fleetwood missed a host of chances – Darren Kelly's side held on in front of 4,139 supporters.

The Cod Army opened the game by far the more potent side. Antoni Sarcevic should have done better than volley over when left all alone at the far post and Stephen Jordan forced a low save by Joel Coleman with a header, while efforts from Declan McManus and Jamille Matt travelled over the bar – all within the first six minutes.

Athletic, who lost Jake Cassidy to injury early on, gradually got going and took the lead when Coleman launched a goal kick that Turner flicked on, allowing Philliskirk to pounce with a low finish inside the far post.

Both sides missed good chances early in the second half, Bobby Grant's weak volley followed by Lee Croft hitting wastefully over.

Danny Andrew also failed to score for the visitors with a close-range effort Coleman somehow bundled round a post on the hour.

But while the visitors pressed to the last, Kelly's side just managed to keep an all-important clean sheet.