Philliskirk hails cup-tie battlers

PROUD Tony Philliskirk said his Athletic youth team were “all winners” after they gave Premier League big guns Newcastle United a huge fright in the FA Youth Cup last night.

They were beaten 2-1 at St James’ Park after Kazenga Lua-Lua scored his second of the game with just three minutes to go.

Ryan Brooke had equalised with a superb long-range strike, but the third-round tie ultimately ended in heartache.

Philliskirk said: “People have described this result as a glorious failure, but the lads gave everything they had and, to me, that feels like we’ve won.

“Maybe we gave Newcastle too much respect in the first half, but the players took on board what we told them at the break and we had a fantastic second half.

“One ball beat us in the end. I’m very proud of the lads — they are all winners.”

Many on show for Athletic will still be eligible for next season’s competition, including 15-year-olds Leroy Chinthengah and Andrew Crompton.

Schoolboy Chinthengah thought he had equalised right at the death, but the goal was ruled out for offside, while a last-gasp effort from Nathan Kilcourse was hacked off the line.

Philliskirk was always confident his side would rise to the occasion, even though Newcastle are riding high in the FA Premier Academy Under-18s League.

The head of youth at Boundary Park was particularly delighted for Brooke, who brought Athletic level after Lua Lua’s first-half opener, as he had been unable to train properly for the last three weeks.

Philliskirk said: “Ryan has got all the ability in the world, but is sometimes too laid-back in his approach to the game.

“He was excellent, and not just with the goal, which was a great strike. He was good in the air and also held the ball up well.”

Meanwhile, Athletic are no nearer discovering if Sean Gregan will be fit for Saturday’s Coca-Cola League One match at Peterborough United.

The defender required stitches inside his mouth after Athletic’s match against Brighton, and doctors are concerned another bang in the area would re-open the wound.

Athletic’s opponents this weekend are through to the third round of the FA Cup after they won 2-1 at Ronnie Moore’s Tranmere last night.

But Peterborough needed extra time before booking their trip to Premier League outfit West Brom in January.