Poacher Kuqi ends long wait

Photo: Alan Howarth

shoulder to shoulder: Athletic striker Matt Smith fends off a Scunthorpe challenge.

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Scunthorpe 0, Athletic 1
THE WORLD has turned many a time since Athletic last managed a victory in a knock-out competition.

The last such win enjoyed by the club was against Rochdale in the Carling Cup, back in August, 2008.

Lee Hughes was the hero then after the game had finished goalless following a period of extra-time, notching the deciding penalty for a 4-1 win at Spotland and in doing so, making up for his earlier miss from the spot.

Back to the present at Glanford Park, a man who threatens to be just as iconic a front man — Shefki Kuqi — was responsible for the decisive touch which put Athletic through to the northern area quarter-finals of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

The experienced striker had endured a patch of mixed form heading into this clash, sparking thoughts that Matt Smith may come into the side to give him a rest.

Not a bit of it. As Paul Dickov fielded the strongest line-up he could — Robbie Simpson’s tight hamstring which saw him replaced by Filipe Morais was the only change from Exeter — Kuqi showed his hunger for goals by sliding in to ram home Chris Taylor’s header in the first half.

That the ball was going in anyway is beside the point. After a career as long as his, 34-year-old Kuqi knows that every goal is equally as beautiful when viewed in print the following day.

Athletic’s first-half performance was a pleasing reaction to the disappointment of the two-goal loss at Exeter.

Dickov’s men had to deal with an early setback in losing left-back Bradley Diallo, who entered the dug-out without returning to the field after only six minutes. David Mellor, who had earlier in the season recorded his first senior goal at Glanford Park, came on as his replacement.

Nathan Clarke produced one of a number of well-timed interceptions to halt Bobby Grant in his tracks as the home side pressed.

At the other end, Reuben Reid’s return pass to Kuqi was a fraction too strong, the ball running through to goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.

The goal, when it came, was the first true effort of the game. Recalled Morais lofted a deep cross into the penalty area, Clarke rose highest to head against the woodwork — the second time he managed that feat in two matches — and as Taylor burst in to head the rebound toward the gaping net, goal-machine Kuqi slid in to ‘make sure’ from a yard out, his fourth strike of the season in an Athletic shirt.

Dickov’s men grew in confidence and continued to break with intent, but narrowly failing to find that final killer pass.

Taylor hit a deflected first-time effort from the edge of the area no more than a foot wide of Johnstone’s right-hand post as Athletic pushed on for a second.

At the other end, Grant really should have drawn his side level seven minutes before half-time.

As the ball was moved right-to-left, full-back Andrew Wright delivered a superb cross into the no-man’s land between defence and goalkeeper, but the former Rochdale forward could do no more than direct his header straight at Alex Cisak, who reacted well to push the ball clear of danger.

Taylor was enjoying himself by now and, after finding a pocket of space in the left, he darted at a retreating Michael O’Connor before hitting a searing left-footed effort from the corner of the area. It was heading into the top-corner but for a fingertip stop by Johnstone.

Scunthorpe made a strong start to the second half and Kieran Lee was forced to head a Garry Thompson cross on to the roof of his own goal, before the busy Morais struck a 20-yard effort well wide.

Barcham wasted a good chance when blazing a ball across to nobody when handily-placed inside the area, while at the other end O’Connor did well to halt Tom Adeyemi in his tracks as the midfielder broke through the centre.

Thompson was next to shoot wide after being set free down the right channel in behind Athletic’s defence.

Kuqi then hit a left-footer low and straight at Johnstone from the edge of the box, but it was a rare foray forward.

The Iron threw away successive chances with just over 20 minutes remaining.

First, Barcham curled one comfortable wide after a swift break, before O’Connor somehow managed to drive the ball over the top when in space on the penalty.

O’Connor had another attempt which Cisak did well to push out, the increasingly busy Diamond mopping up the danger.

Barcham then hesitated too long and shot straight at the Athletic ’keeper and Michael Nelson forced the same man into another low stop with an ambitious 35-yard effort.

Try as they might, Scunthorpe just couldn’t hit the target, leaving Athletic to celebrate a victory they really had to grind out.