Davies drops hat-trick hint

Craig Davies

CRAIG DAVIES sent out a play-me plea to Athletic manager John Sheridan after last night netting a hat-trick for the reserves.

The Welsh striker blasted a 21-minute first-half treble in Athletic’s 5-3 victory against Stockport County at Boundary Park in the Manchester Senior Cup.

And Davies’ goalscoring exploits have increased the pressure on Lee Hughes and Lewis Alessandra, the current first-choice strike pairing.

It has been a stop-start season so far for Davies, last season’s 14-goal top marksman who has yet to score for the first team.

His campaign has been interrupted by a three-match ban following his dismissal at Rochdale in the Carling Cup and then finding himself recently left out of the 16 for the home game against MK Dons.

But Davies, who made a substitute appearance at Hartlepool last Saturday, showed he remains focused as he helped tear apart Stockport’s defence as Athletic opened a 5-0 half-time lead.

Young striker Matty Wolfenden, playing his first match of the season after recovering from a thigh muscle injury, opened the scoring and there was also a goal for new-boy Richie Byrne.

Byrne played an hour last night and Stefan Stam the featured for the opening half. These two are rivals to replace Sean Gregan, who starts a three-match ban, against Huddersfield on Saturday.

Athletic conceded three late goals against Stockport, but there were mitigating circumstances behind the collapse.

Central-defenders Byrne and Stam had been replaced and, with all three substitutes used, Athletic had to play the last 15 minutes with 10 men after Lacquan Esdaile-Biney was injured.

Athletic have won all three group games so far in the Manchester Senior Cup.

Athletic are on course to have their biggest crowd of the season so far for Saturday’s visit of Huddersfield Town, who have sold over 1,200 tickets.

And Sheridan’s Coca-Cola League One leaders are to be featured on the BBC’s Football Focus programme on Saturday lunchtime as the manager and veteran goalkeeper Mark Crossley are to be interviewed.

Athletic have been drawn away to Blackburn Rovers in the Lancashire Senior Cup with the tie to be played at Morecambe on Tuesday, November 11 (7pm).