Strikers hope to impress

STRIKE duo Reuben Reid and Ryan Brooke had a chance to impress today as Athletic’s reserve team took on Morecambe at Stalybridge.

The pair started the totesport.com League game for Lee Duxbury’s side and both were out to put forward a case to be included from the start when the first team travels to play Bournemouth on Saturday.

Reid, Brooke, Oumare Tounkara and former Cherries favourite Warren Feeney are all doing battle for striking spots as manager Paul Dickov tries to find a combination which will have the desired effect.

Athletic — now ninth in npower League One, following Colchester United’s 1-0 win away at Bristol Rovers last night — go to Dean Court in search of a victory which could halve the current six-point gap separating the team from MK Dons, who occupy the last play-off place in the division.

To achieve that, Athletic will need to notch their first goal in a barren run of six matches and more than eight hours of football.

The last victory was achieved a month and seven matches ago, when Hartlepool were dispatched 4-0 at Boundary Park.

Dale Stephens, who will again be without usual midfield partner Dean Furman in central midfield due to suspension, scored the team’s last goal in the 1-1 home draw with Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday, February 5.

Meanwhile, Athletic assistant manager Gerry Taggart and the club answer FA charges today.

Relating to a flare-up in the recent home game against Carlisle, Athletic have admitted the charge of failing to ensure their players conduct themselves in an orderly fashion.

Taggart admits a charge of improper conduct as a result of the altercation at Boundary Park.