Sweet and sour for young Latics star

JACK Laird scored twice — but was also sent off for violent conduct — as Athletic' under-18s started their season with a bang.

The striker bagged a brace against Carlisle in the first half of the North-West Conference Football League Youth Alliance, helping the home side to a commanding 4-0 advantage as the sides switched ends.

But Laird blotted his copybook by going head-to-head with an opposing defender after the break to pick up a red card and a three-match ban.

"In the first half we were excellent and it was probably the best we have played for a long while," said youth team boss Tony Philliskirk.

"With a very young team, we moved the ball well. We had a bit of a sloppy start but then took total control."

Following a long clearance by Athletic's rookie goalkeeper Luke Simpson, Laird latched on to the ball and planted a lob over the goalkeeper for the first goal of the game.

The same player grabbed his second after Ryan Burns — described by Philliskirk as a "revelation" since being moved to a central midfield position — slid the ball through for Laird to check inside and bend his finish into the top corner.

Athletic could have been further ahead but for three or four good saves, before first-year winger Chris Sutherland came in off the wing to slot home a third.

Burns then netted a 25-yard screamer to put Athletic 4-0 up.

After Laird's dismissal and with Kyle Riley battling manfully up front on his own, Athletic were solid rather than spectacular from that point and saw the game out comfortably.

"We were very disciplined defensively and it was a good start for us," added Philliskirk.

An injury to Burns put a dampener on the win, though.

The midfielder has hurt his ankle and the club is awaiting results of a scan with the hope being that ligament damage has not been sustained.


ATHLETIC have signed young centre-back Glenn Belezika. The former Stalybridge player was brought in on trial on the recommendation of Djeny Bembo and has impressed enough to land a permanent deal with the youth team until the end of the season.