Stalemate a useful exercise for Latics
Reporter: BURY 0, ATHLETIC 0
Date published: 20 July 2009
ATHLETIC’S goalless draw at League Two neighbours Bury hardly set the pulse racing, but it was another useful step along the way to the start of the season on August 8.
Manager Dave Penney fielded a stronger starting line-up than had been the case for the disappointing midweek 2-1 defeat at FC Halifax – and Athletic certainly had a more solid look about them.
But chances were at a premium in a dour, gritty battle in which both sides defended well, had some neat moments in build-up play, but overall lacked an incisive thrust.
Athletic had the best opportunities, but Chris Taylor fired over the bar from inside the box after good work by Pawel Abbott, while Chris O’Grady drilled a shot into the side netting from a tight angle.
At the opposite end, goalkeeper Dean Brill was largely unemployed as centre-backs Sean Gregan and Rueben Hazell formed a solid barrier in front of him.
Brill did have to react quickly to dash from his line and boot clear after Gregan’s under-hit back pass threatened to let in the busy Danny Carlton.
Carlton was booked by referee Lee Mason for a challenge on Gregan, whose centre-back partner Hazell was also cautioned for wrestling Domaine Rouse to the ground.
There was a competitive edge to proceedings but the game was not over-blessed with flowing football, despite the promptings of Dean Furman and Jon Worthington as they develop their partnership at the heart of Athletic’s midfield.
As is normally the case in these pre-season affairs, both managers made wholesale changes in the second half.
Athletic withdrew O’Grady, Abbott, Dean Smalley, Neal Eardley and Worthington, sending on Lewis Alessandra, Danny Whittaker, Kelvin Lomax, Ryan Brooke and Chris Rowney.
And Taylor had a chance to pinch victory after 70 minutes when the glanced a header wide from Joe Jacobson’s corner kick.
The one downside for Athletic was an injury to a trialist striker who suffered suspected knee ligament damage in a pile-up with goalkeeper Wayne Brown and defender Ryan Cresswell.
Athletic: Brill, Eardley, Jacobson, Worthington, Gregan, Hazell, Smalley, Furman, Abbott, O,Grady, Taylor. Subs: Lomax, Spencer, Haining, Whittaker, Alessandra, Brooke, Rowney, Trialist, Trialist.
