Cup crackers!

Photo: Darren Robinson

Loud and proud.. Athletic's under-18s celebrate Lancashire FA Youth Cup success last night

JOHN Sheridan cast his eye over potential new recruits to the first-team ranks last night, as Athletic’s youth team made it three cup victories in as many years.

The manager, who has emerged as a target for Bolton, watched from the directors’ box along with his assistant Peter Shirtliff as Blackpool were defeated 3-0 at SportsDirect.com Park in the final of the Lancashire FA Youth Cup.

Jake Hargreaves and Brendan Glackin (two) were the scorers, with three second-half goals earning another big win for academy boss Tony Philliskirk's charges.

Midfielder Hargreaves fired home at the far post from a Lee Knight cross just before the hour and striker Glackin netted twice late on to secure the silverware.

‘FANTASTIC’

“I am really proud of the lads and it’s a fantastic achievement,” said Philliskirk, whose side also beat Blackpool in the same competition two years ago, following that up with an FA Youth Alliance Cup win over MK Dons 12 months later.

“On the strength of the performance we deserved to win and that’s no disrespect to Blackpool.

“I know they can play better than that, but credit to our lads for stopping them playing.

“We pressed high and limited the space they had.

“In the end we ran out comfortable winners, which is very pleasing.”

Attention will now turn to which of the second-year scholars will be offered professional deals — and potentially some experience within the first-team squad for the final two games of the Sky Bet League One season.

Goalkeeper Chris Renshaw, defenders Kallum Mantack and Jamie Stott, midfield trio Alex Read, Knight and Hargreaves and striker Rio Murray all await news on their futures.

With Sheridan having handed first-team chances to young professionals Jack Tuohy and George Edmundson despite the pressure-cooker environment of a battle against relegation, it’s clear that the manager is not afraid to hand players their chance.

Joel Coleman (20), Edmundson (18) and on-loan duo Cameron Dummigan (19) and Tareiq Holmes-Dennis have been partly responsible for a defensive record that has brought consecutive clean sheets at Southend and at home to Crewe.

Athletic have issued a hands-off warning to Bolton over Sheridan, who has been joined as 2-1 second-favourite in the betting market for the job by former Wigan and Brentford boss Uwe Rosler.

Southend manager Phil Brown is the 6-4 favourite for the job, though cash-strapped Wanderers are thought not to be able to summon up a compensation package to take back Sam Allardyce’s former assistant.

WALSALL kept alive their automatic promotion hopes by seeing off struggling Shrewsbury 2-1 last night.

First-half goals from Kieron Morris and Rico Henry gave the Saddlers a two-goal advantage at the break and despite former Athletic loan defender Mat Sadler pulling one back, Mick Mellon’s side fell to defeat.

Walsall are now within three points of Burton in second place with two games to go, while Shrewsbury stay 19th on 50 points, four clear of Blackpool in the final relegation spot.