Latics torn to shreds

Photo: All pictures: ALAN HOWARTH

Liam Kelly scores Latics’ equaliser.

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Athletic 2, Scunthorpe 4

CRUNCHING tackles, crowd-pleasing action and a sense of purpose and drive were all in evidence on Saturday afternoon.

It's a shame from Athletic's perspective that all of that came in a small-sided game at half-time featuring the ROCS under-10s girls' team.

The rest of the entertainment the long-suffering supporters paid to see?

Well, to say it was disappointing following on from the energising draw at Gillingham — the best effort yet of manager David Dunn's early-season rebuilding job — would be a significant understatement.

Despite a promising opening and somehow going 2-1 up in the first half thanks in no small part to the fortune of two heavy deflections before clinical finishes by Liam Kelly and Dominic Poleon, Athletic were thoroughly and indisputably second-best to a Scunthorpe side previously without an away win all season.

Iron striker Paddy Madden’s persistence, target man Tom Hopper's physicality and the craft of Tommy Rowe – scorer of the second for Mark Robins' side, to draw level before the interval — were far too much for a cowed Athletic outfit to deal with.

Even the introduction of Dunn, swapping trainers for boots in the 76th minute, couldn't raise Athletic to heights above mediocrity at best.

Dunn was caught in possession deep in the Scunthorpe half for the fourth goal. In keeping with the day, the visitors counter-attacked with alarming potency, before substitute Kevin van Veen — a former plasterer — skimmed his way between two defenders on the right wing, poked the ball between the legs of James Wilson and carefully scooped over the advancing David Cornell in the 84th minute.

From a defensive standpoint, it was as embarrassing a goal to concede as it gets.

This is no time to panic. Athletic were unfortunate not to win at Priestfield a week earlier and a bulging squad has plenty of options within it.

But victories are proving elusive and even when leading 2-1, this game never felt remotely secure.

Athletic kicked off in half-decent fashion here, but Scunthorpe could have been three goals up by the 13th minute.

After Hopper had struck the near post with a volley from a Gary McSheffrey cross, Connor Brown's blind pass back towards the centre circle gave the visitors possession and Madden led the charge.

Athletic retreated but there was a large hole in Brown's position. McSheffrey controlled and fired home low through Cornell's legs.

Shortly after, Athletic's goalkeeper produced a brilliant save from a poorly-defended set piece to tip over Murray Wallace's far-post header.

Athletic's equaliser came from nowhere. Poleon chased down a ricochet and cut along the by-line, pulling back for Philliskirk to shoot.

His attempt bounced off a defender into Kelly's path and his low drive on the turn inside the area beat Luke Daniels in the Iron goal.

A set piece led to Athletic's second goal soon after. Daniel Lafferty's initial cross was flicked high into the air by Poleon and a half-clearance was returned to the left-back, who volleyed first-time.

Heading off target, the ball struck a defender and Poleon was on hand to turn home from close range.

Neal Bishop was then lucky to stay on the field for a wild late challenge on Kelly — a yellow card was produced — in an incident which showed how fired up Robins' side were.

McSheffrey forced another good save from the over-worked Cornell with a long-range effort before Rowe, the classiest player on the field, fired home with the aid of a fortunate deflection with Athletic again reacting to the danger too slowly.

After the interval, the game settled down and Athletic looked relatively comfortable, albeit without testing Daniels once in the second 45 minutes other than through a low Mike Jones drive which was stopped fairly easily.

Cornell saved superbly from Hopper's header only for Madden, racing in, to smash the ball home.

It was all too clear that at this stage there was no way back for disjointed Athletic, even with Dunn on the field.

Van Veen's solo goal was brilliant in its impudence, but also embarrassed an Athletic team that simply did not show up on the day, with Cornell later saving with his legs from Madden to prevent another five-goal hiding at home.