Young guns in shut-out show

James Tarkowski partnered Matt Carr at the heart of Athletic’s defence.

ATHLETIC’S class of tomorrow showed the first team of today how it is done by shutting out Preston and claiming a creditable draw.

The totesport.com League clash against the Lilywhites’ reserves — a game watched by manager Paul Dickov — ended with Lee Duxbury’s side emerging with a 0-0 draw at Stalybridge.

Second-year scholars James Tarkowski and Matty D Carr partnered each other at the centre of Athletic’s defence and repelled the best attacks the Championship outfit’s second string could muster.

Preston missed a first-half penalty when Carr fouled Danny Mayor, but Adam Barton blasted the ball over the crossbar.

Athletic goalkeeper Shaun Routledge was in excellent form in a clash played out in blustery conditions, as was Preston custodian Andreas Arestidou who made saves from Kirk Millar, local trialist striker Ben Stevens and Lewis Alessandra.

Ryan Brooke was also in the starting line-up, playing alongside Stevens in attack.


JEAN-YVES Mvoto is unlikely to join up with Athletic in time to make the Leyton Orient game on Saturday.
Dickov is keen to bring back the giant centre-back as he tries to halt the costly trend of conceding goals from crosses.

Mvoto was due to play for Sunderland’s reserves against West Ham this week. but the French star didn’t make the game.

That was as a result of an injection he had last week to calm down the ankle injury which originally cut short his season-long loan at Boundary Park in early January.