Latics V MK Dons

[philliggi]

Don's Taught Footballing Lesson

 

Another clean sheet, another two goals, another victory, are we starting to believe? Throw in a penalty save and an atmosphere which is beginning to match that of the entertainment on the pitch, and it all adds up to the best start to the season since the division 2 title campaign of 90/91, and we all know how that ended. Indeed, that year Sheridan was to play an integral role in Latics lifting the title, not a moment he will be proud of, conceding the decisive penalty which was to make Neil Redfearn one of the most famous names in the clubs history. Again, Sheridan is playing a major role this time round, building a team playing slick, passing football, who are solid at the back, and deadly up top.

 

For the visit of MK Dons, Latics fielded a team with one change to the starting line up which beat Tranmere on their own patch a week before, with Hughes replacing Craig Davies. Losing the toss, Athletic started the game kicking towards the Chaddy, not that it matters these days with both ends of the ground providing the team with good vocal backing.

 

MK started brightly, harrowing and pushing each Athletic player into making a pass under pressure. Latics were having little time on the ball to work it as they would like, but it wasn't long before they created their first opening. A trademark Mark Allott tackle in the centre of the park sent a loose ball over to the right hand side, which was collected by Andy Liddell who's searching cross had too much weight on it for Chris Taylor at the far post, but it wasn’t long before an attack down the right hand side was to prove fruitful.

 

Neil Eardley - provider of the cross which set up Hazell at Tranmere last week - again delivered the assist. He won a 50/50 deep in his own half, and delivered a pin point long ball to Hughes who had broke clear of his marker. Under pressure from the advancing Gueret in the MK goal, Hughes used all his experience and ability to lift the ball over the keeper from the edge of the box. Audacious though it might have been it was enough to send the Latics into a 1-0 lead after just 8 minutes.

 

Latics were still enjoying the bulk of the possession yet MK were defending well, and limiting Athletic to half chances. yet it was MK who were to create the next action of note, with a cross coming in from the right on 20 minutes. Seemingly weak, the cross caused chaos, and when the ball bounced up onto the arm of Gregan, the referee harshly believed it was ball to hand. After much debate between Gregan and The referee, which resulted in a card for the skipper, up stepped up Mark Wright to convert the penalty. Except he didn't. A weak effort, low to the left, was easily saved, and held by the experienced Crossley. As so often is the case, A harshly awarded penalty is missed, some would say poetic justice.

 

The penalty miss seemed to kick life into MK, rather than deflating them, and ex Athletic loanee Aaron Wilbraham was the spear head of their attack. When a midfield battle was won by the visitors, quick play saw the ball out on the left, and Wilbraham broke free and latched onto a cross. under severe pressure from Crossley, it seemed easier to score than miss, but that’s exactly what he did, attempting a lob from three yards, not surprisingly sending the ball over the crossbar, too the relief of the Latics faithful. Who did he think he was, Hughes?

 

Another MK attack resulted in a corner for the visitors, which was well cleared by the head of Lomax, and picked up by Liddell on the right. Good vision by the veteran winger saw Chris Taylor racing clear and the early ball to him set up a 3 on two attack in Athletics favour. Taylor beat his man to play in Whittaker, who sent a testing shot goal bound, which was well saved by Willy Gueret. The fluidity of the move however highlighted just why Athletic are heading the pack at this early stage of the season. good defensive play, followed by excellent vision, the ability to beat a man and a willingness to have a shot will all be key features in Athletics season.

 

MK felt hard done by midway through the half, as they had the ball in the back of the net, but the whistle had already gone seconds before. It was the result of some very good work on Athletics Left, with Lomax being turned by his marker. The resulting cross however was met by an offside Peter Leven, who controlled well before placing the ball in the bottom corner. A big question mark still remains however whether he would have scored had Athletic not stopped when the whistle was blown. The decision was a dubious one, and it remains unclear if it was the correct one, but it wasn’t the only offside decision which was left open to debate, with the linesman on the main stand side of the pitch seemingly unaware of what the offside rule actually is. If he was bad for MK, he was atrocious for Athletic, with no less than 6 dubious offside’s given during the second period.

 

As the half came to a close, Athletic began to get on top in midfield, something which they had struggled with in the first half, and it was good work between Allott and Whittaker in the middle of the park which resulted in Allessandra receiving the ball with his back to goal on the edge of the area. holding off his man, he flicked the ball up, and hit a volley on the turn which tested the MK stopper. remarkable confidence and ability for someone so young.

 

Athletic were being given a stern test by the visitors, probably their toughest opponents of the season. Similar to that of Tranmere last week, MK were probably just shading the first half, yet came in at the interval 1-0 down. Harsh on the visitors, yet the sign of a good team for Athletic. Not that Latics were playing badly, indeed the football which has become so evident and regular this season was still on show, but a very determined hard working display from MK was making life difficult for the home team.

 

Athletic kept their guests waiting at the start of the second half, appearing a full two minutes after the visitors. When play did get underway, It emerged Athletic had come out looking sharper, and slicker compared to the showing of the first half. Athletic were to play keep ball for much of the second period. by no means were they show boating, possession football a result of Athletic struggling to break down MK, and rather than give the ball away needlessly they were happy to retain possession. This did however show the confidence which was oozing out of a table topping team.

 

Wilbraham was the centre of attention 5 mins into the half, going down in the box under pressure from Hazell. wanting a penalty, the referee was clearly, and quite rightly, having none of it. It wasn't however the first time, or indeed the last the MK attacker was found lying on the ground, as if shot, much to the home crowds annoyance.

 

Shortly after, Crossley was called into action when a rasping shot from McDermott, a second half substitute, was the result of good work down Athletics right. Crossley immediately sent a long ball up the pitch which found the head of Hughes, and his flick on found Allessandra on his own on the penalty spot. A poor first touch made life difficult for him, but he recovered well and produced a shot on the turn which forced Gueret into a truly world class save from point blank range. If the shot was good, the save was truly magical.

 

A cross field ball from the MK full back was neatly intercepted by Hughes, brought down and he turned well, beating his marker before bearing down on goal. Another marker was left eating Hughes' dust, and the Athletic front man unleashed a well hit shot which was held by Gueret. The MK stopper was having a blinder, and he was undoubtedly The MK man of the match.

 

The introduction of O'grady for Hughes raised the 5,563 crowd to their feet, after another outstanding display by the Latics front man. His all round game is quite simply a step above this level and Athletic are lucky to have him. His replacement however was quickly in the thick of the action when he won the ball just inside the MK half. he broke clear and Athletic outnumbered the Dons 4-2, but an attempted ball through to Taylor, which would have sent the home grown talent clear with a free run on goal, was under hit and easily blocked by the MK centre back, Sean O Hanlon.

 

Time was ticking down now, and Athletic had seemingly wrapped the game up, and were playing for time. Wilbraham’s play acting throughout the second half resulted in 5 additional minutes, much to the home sides despair. Football was being played in by the corner flag, and after being fouled, Chris Taylor momentarily lost his cool and lashed out at an opponent resulting in a yellow card. He was to make amends moments later when a clever dead ball from Crossley fooled everyone in the ground, finding Taylor with thirty yards of space on the left hand side. he proceeded to again take the ball into the corner flag, and then curiously brought it all the way back near halfway. Seeing Allott completely unmarked in the middle he played him in, and Allott took the ball forward 15 yards before sending a daisy cutter towards the MK goal. Gueret had no chance, and it became 2-0 to Latics.

 

Slightly harsh on MK, a 2-0 score line failed to show the tightly contested affair between two sides who will no doubt be contesting the play offs come May, if not better. On another day, the result could quite easily have been 2-0 to the away team, but Athletic are quite clearly on the crest of a wave. decisions are going for them and the ball is bouncing for them. They now sit a full 3 points clear of Carlisle in 2nd, and with a better goal difference. They are also the only remaining team in the division with an unbeaten record. Long may it continue

 

Keep the faith

Edited September 14, 2008 by philliggi