You made me proud!
Reporter: MATTHEW CHAMBERS
Date published: 16 December 2010
Photo: PICTURES: ANTHONY MILLER
JUMP TO IT... Riley leaps to challenge a Manchester City defender on a night where the Premier League side were pushed all the way for their victory.
A PAIR of superb comebacks were not quite enough to get Athletic past Manchester City in their FA Youth Cup third-round tie at Boundary Park, as Tony Philliskirk's men lost 6-5 in a thrilling clash.
Athletic went in level at half-time against the Premier League giants after roaring back from 2-0 down with goals from captain James Tarkowski and Matt A Carr.
The home side then conceded three times inside the first 10 minutes of the second period.
City extended their lead to four with a controversial strike from winger Alex Henshall, which arrived after two-goal striker Harry Bunn — playing in front of watching father Frank — had appeared to push Tarkowski over near the touchline.
But Athletic gave City a major fright in the last 15 minutes.
Ryan Burns fired in at the far post, Kyle Riley turned the ball home after an almighty scramble in the area and substitute Sam Fitzgerald's left-wing free-kick floated over City 'keeper Lorius Kazius's head with two minutes of added time left to play.
Unfortunately for the home fans in a crowd of 406, there wasn't enough time for a rattled visiting defence to be tested further.
"I am very proud of the resilience they showed, in coming back from 2-0 down — when we feared the worst — to get back to 2-2," said Philliskirk, who was without suspended centre-back Matt D Carr and ill winger Connor Hughes and had to deal with key man Andy Crompton retiring four minutes into the second half with a groin problem.
"Then at 6-2 down, to come back to 6-5 says a lot about the character and spirit we have got.
"The disappointing thing is we lost the game in the first 10 minutes of the second half. We conceded three goals and the game was over.
"The talk in the dressing room at half-time was that we were back in the ascendancy and that we needed to impose ourselves on them early on.
"The total opposite happened. We conceded the early goal through a mistake and let our heads drop.
"When you play against top-quality opposition and give them a chance, they hurt you.
"We have got some good players. We are not as gifted ability-wise as Manchester City but our spirit is fantastic.
"I wish the game had gone on for five more minutes — you never know what might have happened.
"It was a missed opportunity, but the boys can go away with their heads held high."
Athletic: Routledge; Winchester, Tarkowski, Parkes, Kidd; Burns, Matt A Carr, Mellor, Laird (Bell 80); Crompton (Fitzgerald 44), Riley. Subs not used: Connor, Cooper, Sutherland.
