oafcprozac Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 (edited) 1990 began with Latics playing their 15th game against Leeds United in little over 3 years, in that time the Blues had enjoyed by far the better of the exchanges but under the tutelage of Howard Wilkinson, the men from over the hill were resurgent and top of the league when Latics arrived at Elland Road on New Year’s Day. Andy Rhodes despite his League Cup heroics saw himself dropped in favour of finally fit again and recognised number one Jon Hallworth, it would be March before Rhodes, regained his place. The pitch at Elland Road was a pudding - as the 1990s arrived under a cloud burst and Latics mood darkened further with the early exit of the injured Andy Ritchie – Roger Palmer who had played a bit part up to this point of the season came off the bench and typically within minutes he had headed the play-off chasers in front. What followed was a superb rear-guard action from a gritty Athletic. However, as has proved so often in the past the defence could not quite hold out and a last-gasp volleyed equaliser; hammered in by John Hendrie saw the spoils shared. Five days later, the 1990 FA Cup campaign started – Latics had been handed a tricky looking tie away to Third Division Birmingham City, Andy Ritchie still suffering from the injury picked up at Elland Road was replaced by Roger Palmer, and Ian Marshall winning a recall for the stricken Paul Warhurst, having a larger squad was certainly paying dividends for Joe Royle. The game itself at St. Andrew’s was a non-entity; the pitch again was terrible with Birmingham throwing the kitchen sink at Latics. Nigel Gleghorn snatched the lead for the hosts and that looked to have been decisive until a late equaliser from Frank Bunn rescued a replay. (It was to be Bunn’s last goal and appearance for over four months) The replay four days later (yes, no having to wait ten days back in 1990!) was a tight affair on a cold and windy night at Boundary Park, the teams were unable to be separated and as extra-time was coming to a close it looked as though a second replay may well be needed. Then, a moment of brilliance by Rick Holden who jinked his way through the Brum defence saw him slide an effort past the grounded Martin Thomas, whilst himself stumbling (a carbon copy of the goal he scored to win the first leg of the Littlewoods Cup 2nd Round 1st leg v Leeds back in September) Latics had scraped through to a straight forward looking tie against Brighton at Boundary Park. Prior to this season Joe Royle had often joked that Latics undertook ‘Cup walks’ rather than the traditional runs, well with the club in the Littlewoods Cup quarter finals and looking well placed for a decent run in the FA Cup, the directors at Boundary Park decided to loosen the purse strings and allow Royle to bolster his squad with the signing of midfielder Neil Redfearn for £150,000 from Watford. Redfearn had initially been signed as cover for central midfield partnership Henry and Milligan but also to bolster the right-hand side. Neil Adams whilst good going forward could be a liability defensively. Redfearn made an immediate debut at Swindon (playing as a deep lying striker to support Roger Palmer) in a re-jigged side that was missing Barlow, Ritchie, Bunn and Warhurst and despite a battling performance the team were edged out by one goal in five. Scott McGarvey coming off the bench to score Latics second goal – his first of only two for the club. Ironically the under-pressure, Neil Adams grabbing the other. Big crowds were now becoming the norm at Boundary Park and again the old place was rocking for a top of the table clash with Newcastle United, Latics were given a timely boost with the return to action of Andy Ritchie, Andy Barlow and Paul Warhurst. In a game of few chances one goal was always likely to win it. As time wore on a superb cross from Denis Irwin was met with a typical flicked header from the talismanic Ritchie, and that seemed to be that. There was to be a late twist though with the defensive frailties again rearing their ugly head and veteran Mark McGhee sneaked in for a late equaliser. Four games without a win and the top two were gradually getting away. The following Wednesday saw the arduous midweek trip to the Dell, the club even laid on a special train down to the South Coast and days were taken off work and school for the many that just ‘had to be there!’ For many that travelled it was to be a disappointment, Southampton at the last possible moment had decided to cut Athletic’s allocation of tickets and many turning up at the Dell at the last minute saw they were locked out, it was bitterly disappointing when travelling all that way in a time where mobile phones were pretty non-existent, the internet was unavailable to all and 24 hour Sports News had not yet been dreamt up. For those that did gain entry to the ramshackle old place, they saw a team again missing important personnel (Denis Irwin added to the absentees). Southampton had already destroyed the all-conquering Liverpool 4-1 at The Dell that year and when Matt Le Tissier smashed them ahead, the signs did not look good, especially when Rod Wallace wasted three great chances, one he buried but was adjudges offside, one a fortuitous point blank save from Hallworth and another into the side netting. McGarvey’s header was well saved by Flowers however Latics fashioned an equaliser with ten minutes to go - Henry’s clipped low cross met with a stooping header from Andy Ritchie 15 yards out. In the mean time Latics had lost Paul Warhurst to injury and were in effect playing with three at the back (Barlow moving inside). Within two minutes of the Ritchie’s header, Barlow brought down Southampton’s Barry Horne and the subsequent penalty was smashed home by the irrepressible Le Tissier (so often a thorn in Athletic’s side in future years) Southampton knew with so little time to go that as long as they kept possession they would see the job through, however their tactics in the last five minutes bordered on not only time wasting but downright cheating. Rodger Milford the referee warned them about persistent time wasting yet his warnings went unheeded and the referee saw fit to add on several minutes ‘injury time’. What happened in the third minute of injury time will live long in Latics folklore. I was unfortunate not to be at the Dell that night but I will recreate the radio commentary that so many of us heard that night courtesy of GMR;- “...Hallworth, sends it long ...there must be seconds remaining.. McGarvey flicks it on, Milligan sends it wide...one last chance...Holden crosses, Ritchie stretches...YEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! 2-2 nothing more than the Latics deserve....!” Ritchie’s strike had rewarded the Latics with a replay, although if the ball had not deflected Francis Benali it may not have gone in! The reaction of the Southampton players at the final whistle was clear for all to see, they were devastated and despite being 5th in the old First Division The Saints knew the difficulty of their task at Boundary Park! The cup games were coming thick and fast and the following Saturday saw Latics at home to Brighton in the 4th Round of the FA Cup. Understandably after their long trip south three days earlier the team were lethargic in a goalless first half. Then early in the second-half – disaster struck, Brighton winger Mark Barham was given time and space to fire home. The goal against as it did so often at home saw Athletic burst into life, within minutes Scott McGarvey (handed a rare start following his cameo at The Dell) swept home at the Chaddy End to level and shortly after, another header from Andy Ritchie won the tie. Latics reward was to meet Everton for the third successive season in Cup Football. This time though the tie would be set for Boundary Park initially, after two previous visits to Goodison and a replay at Boundary Park. The cup excitement continued, four days after despatching Brighton it was a return to Littlewoods Cup action and the Quarter-Final Replay with Southampton. The game started at a frenetic pace and Southampton looked as if they meant business, they felt hard done by Latics late, late leveller the week before and set out to banish all doubts this time. In fact if it had not been for a superb display from Jon Hallworth then Southampton could have been a couple of goals up before half-time. However, Latics had already the insurance of Andy Ritchie’s skimmed header within the first ten minutes! (The Southampton team included Paul Rideout, Rod Wallace, Matt Le Tissier, Tim Flowers, Neil Ruddock and a young Alan Shearer who came on as an early substitute) Ritchie in fact had another effort ruled out (harshly before half-time) Early in the second half a terrific one touch move saw Mike Milligan steal in unmarked to smash home, Latics were 2-0 up and that in effect was the game. It could have been more and despite a late rally from Southampton, the Latics were into the Semi-Finals of a Cup Competition for the first time since losing to Aston Villa 1-0 at Ewood Park in the 1913 FA Cup Semi-Final. The team were still in the top six of the second division, well-placed for a play-off berth, in the Semi-Finals of the Littlewoods Cup and looking forward to the FA Cup 5th Round too. If the season so far had been surreal, Latics fans would soon be in dreamland.... Edited December 16, 2009 by oafcprozac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oafcprozac Posted December 16, 2009 Author Share Posted December 16, 2009 Just realised, inverted commas and spech marks do not copy and paste from word..............bollocks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlossopLatic Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Another cracking lunchtime read looking forward to part 111 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardy Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Brilliant mate, please dont stop! Btw, i want a signed copy of this ere book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oafcprozac Posted December 16, 2009 Author Share Posted December 16, 2009 Brilliant mate, please dont stop! Btw, i want a signed copy of this ere book! It's some way off yet, probably the end of next season tbh - should tie in nicely with what I have planned. But as I'm returning to teaching in January, I'll just be writing bits here and there. The bulk of it I hope will be wrote in the summer. Adding to what I have already wrote over the last couple of years. Once I have time I'll start the ball rolling and see whether the club want to come on board or not, but we're 12-18 months away from a finished product - minimum. Hopefully it will coincide with the ground move... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marshy Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Another cracking lunchtime read looking forward to part 111 + 1 and arnt we all will pay for my copy though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marshy Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Brilliant mate, please dont stop! Btw, i want a signed copy of this ere book! sorry wrong post before but look above lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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