McGrath double strike is in vain

PARK LIFE: TONY Philliskirk revealed that a catalogue of problems hampered the chances of his Athletic side in the 5-3 FA Youth Cup home defeat to Rochdale at Boundary Park last night.

The only bright spot on the evening was the performance of left winger Philip McGrath, who scored twice — the second a fizzing 20-yard shot into the bottom corner — but that aside, Athletic's youth team boss was in reflective mood after the chance of a third-round tie at Aston Villa slipped away in front of a crowd of 312.

Philliskirk, whose side were undone by three goals in the space of 13 minutes after half-time, said: "You hold your hands up - the opposition were better than us on the night.

"But in the last 10 days anything that could have gone wrong has gone wrong.

"Tom Eaves has been ill and hasn't trained, drank or eaten for three days, so he was weak.

"Philip McGrath hasn't managed to train for a month after a double hernia, so he did very well for us.

"Kirk Millar, a very important player, has ruptured his ankle ligaments and will be out for three months.

"Djeny Bembo-Leta played and that was his best game for a while, after he was carried off on Saturday and came off the treatment table to play.

"We have also had discipline problems - which I can't elaborate on - in the last couple of days, which haven't helped either."

It is understood the problems led to one unnamed player being removed from the starting line-up for last night's game and the matter is set to be discussed at board level next week.

The opening goal came from Rochdale, playing in Athletic's yellow away shirts as their purple kit was deemed to cause a colour clash.

Tom Buckley's inswinging free-kick deflected off the head of Matthew Andrew Carr and crept in at the far post.

McGrath equalised after Andrew Crompton's neat turn and shot was deflected into his path, but the visitors restored their advantage two minutes later when Liam Murray hung up a ball to the far post which burly striker Dennis Sheriff turned in.

Athletic drew level just before the interval in an entertaining end-to-end tie, McGrath picking up the ball on the left before cutting inside and striking a right-foot shot past the outstretched hand of Daniel Taberner.

Rochdale, driven on by excellent central midfielder Callum Byrne and with pace to burn out wide, won the game with three further strikes.

Scott Hogan scored from the penalty spot after James Tarkowski had brought him down and he grabbed another goal two minutes later, cutting inside to hit home a low shot.

And the game was up for Athletic — who grabbed an injury-time third through a header from Bembo-Leta — when Rochdale captain Joshua Brizell's free-kick from the left went straight in at the far post.

Athletic: White; Tarkowski (Mellor 59), Esdaile-Biney, Cowan, McCall; Hughes (Eaves 46), M A Carr, M D Carr (Laird 59), McGrath; Crompton, Bembo-Leta. Subs not used: Routledge, Zaicevs.

Goals: McGrath (33, 43), Bembo-Leta (90).

Rochdale: Taberner; Brizell, Roche, Brown, Buckley; Hogan, Bell (Benjamin 69), Byrne, Murray (Tinkler 86); Sheriff (Fagbola 88), Gray. Subs not used: Andrews, Andre.

Goals: M A Carr (16 o.g.), Sherriff (35), Hogan (48 pen, 50), Brizell (58).