Forte goal ensures Latics are safe

GOAL . . . Jonathan Forte

ATHLETIC 1, CREWE 0

JONATHAN Forte's goal ensured that Athletic will definitely remain in Sky Bet League One next season.

The forward twisted and turned a shot in off a post in the second half of a game relegated Crewe played a full part in, arguably having the better chances.

Not that it matters for Athletic boss John Sheridan, who thanks to this ninth win of his tenure secures safety with two games to spare.

And that thanks to a fourth straight home win, all picked up without conceding a goal.

Athletic, unchanged from the line-up that beat Southend in midweek, started poorly and could easily have fallen behind.

Marcus Haber headed wide when unmarked off a corner on three minutes and then forced two sharp stops from Joel Coleman as the visitors belied their tag as the division's bottom-ranked side.

Main volleyed over from a tight angle as Jonathan Forte shaped a cross in, but Callum Saunders had the half's big chance when taking advantage of a Liam Kelly back-header. In on goal, Coleman narrowed the angle to perform a terrific block of the strikers' left footed attempt.

Sheridan's side improved as half-time approached and Main forced Garrett into his first save with a left-footed volley after Anthiny Gerrard had flicked a corner kick into his path.

Jamie Jones hit the side-netting from David Fox' pass as Crewe again threatened in the second half.

Then came Forte's intervention just before the hour to hand Athletic the lead.

Main went close shortly after from a Holmes-Dennis delivery, again from the left flank.

Crewe enjoyed some pressure of their own but found Coleman in inspired form. The goalkeeper did brilliantly to turn over a lovely, curled effort from Brad Inman, who late shot wide of the near post from inside the box.

Dominic Poleon went clsoe with a late shot and Athletic did enough to earn the acclaim of the vast majority of the 4,571 fans inside SportsDirect.com Park.