No panic as Latics seek a cutting edge

Photo: Juel Miah

EYES WIDE SHUT . . . Athletic striker Lee Erwin attempts to win a header

2 More Image(s) In Gallery

IT DOESN'T take a rocket science degree to work out the areas Athletic need to work on.

One goal in three friendly outings so far - scored by trialist Liandro Martis, originating from a quickly-taken set piece - goes some way to illustrating that the new squad assembled by Stephen Robinson has not quite hit its straps yet in the attacking third.

Here, against a Fylde side backed by a multi-millionaire and surely destined for a concerted push towards Vanarama National League status and possibly beyond, Athletic were improved in terms of defensive solidity.

Save for the goal, which was a beautifully struck free-kick by veteran Scottish left-back Stephen Crainey, Athletic's new rookie goalkeeper Chris Kettings was not called into action at all.

At the other end, though, it didn't quite happen on the day for Robinson's charges.

Ollie Banks forced Flyde's goalkeeper - improbably, a trialist by the name of Tim Dieng, who has recently been training with Bolton - into a low first-half stop after a neat interchange down the right side by Athletic's most-likely lads to create, Lee Croft and Ryan Flynn.

STOPPED

Late on, Lee Erwin's header was stopped low to Dieng's left and a superb raking ball by Jamie Stott also set the on-loan Leeds striker in on goal, his rifled shot well blocked by the Swiss-born goalkeeper's legs.

Nothing on show here will panic Robinson. Athletic are only two weeks in to pre-season and are still hunting candidates to replace the lost pace of Jonathan Forte and Dominic Poleon.

Drawing a blank is not ideal, yet smashing Stirling Albion for five a year ago served virtually no purpose either - possibly even lulling Athletic into a safety zone.

This was a tougher test than that, with a line-up that is very much still under construction.

Chances at both ends were scarce in the opening 45 minutes. Jake Cassidy and Billy Mckay are still learning each other's games and the service into them was not of sufficient quality to carve out clear openings, despite some neat touches from Croft and Flynn. The latter man was more involved when moved in from his initial berth on the left flank.

Cameron Burgess, tall and tidy in his work at the back, headed one effort into the hands of Dieng and the goalkeeper also fell on top of a side-footed drive from Banks.

Within a back four, skipper Peter Clarke was vocal in organising and cajoling his team-mates and there were few scares for the visitors. On one occasion Clarke had to flick away an inswinging corner from Brendon Daniels, but the opening period featured plenty of sloppiness in possession from both teams.

Athletic made three changes at half-time and soon found themselves one-down.

Flynn stumbled and then handled, 20 yards out. Crainey's curling left-foot strike over the wall left Kettings rooted to the spot as the net bulged.

A host of changes disrupted what little flow there had been. For Athletic, Kallum Mantack impressed again, this time as a right-winger.

The visitors finished the game strongly and after the pacey Mantack had bounced away a defender before crossing for Erwin's saved header, Stott's excellent pass nearly made an equaliser.

Clarke had earlier headed over the bar from a far-post free-kick.

Athletic didn't hit any heights here, but that at least shines some light for Robinson on where to go next.