Stand-in strikers on target

PARK LIFE: GOALS from makeshift strike pair Phillip McGrath and Connor Hughes provided Athletic's youth team with a 2-1 home win over Morecambe — but it could and should have been far more comfortable than it was.

Once again, Tony Philliskirk filled his side with players from the younger end of the spectrum.

But even on the back of three successive defeats, there was only one team in it from the start as chance after chance went begging for Athletic.

Hughes put the home team ahead 10 minutes into the second half, breaking away down the left before cutting in and smashing the ball home.

McGrath then provided an excellent finish to double the lead with only 10 minutes left.

As has happened on many occasions this season, Athletic succumbed to defensive woes when a long free-kick hoisted into the penalty area caused panic and led to the awarding of a successful penalty kick.

However, Philliskirk's men negotiated a tricky final five minutes.

"We played some very good football," said Philliskirk. "We had a physically small team out so we had to pass it and we managed to do that well.

"It was good to round off the year with a win." Josh Rose made a comeback after a long injury lay-off to play the final 25 minutes and Rico Ramsey — who has missed two years with successive knee ligament injuries — also turned out for half the game.

Further good news is that Ben Lysons, who has also been missing for two seasons due to cruciate troubles, has resumed training with the youth team.