Latics reach safe haven

Photo: Pictures: ALAN HOWARTH

BRIGHT SPARK . . . Filipe Morais, one of the few successes on a flat afternoon for Athletic, shows good control to help set up an attack.

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Athletic 1, Preston 1

MATTHEW CHAMBERS
Status secured — but what a bore
DALE Stephens doesn’t even play for Athletic any more. Despite that handicap, he still managed to be the most influential figure in preserving the club’s status in npower League One.

The 22-year-old Charlton midfielder’s sweetly-struck fifth goal of the season won three points for the Addicks, earning a 2-1 home victory to claim the title for his club.

Coupled with Athletic’s dismal end-of-season scrappy draw, Stephens’ goal ensured opponents Wycombe can no longer catch Paul Dickov’s men.

It wasn’t entirely the home side’s fault that the entertainment on show made watching paint dry seem an attractive – and far cheaper – alternative pastime.

Preston came to harass and scrap all over the pitch. It was obvious there wasn’t much positive form to speak of.

Robbie Simpson made up for an earlier couple of miscues by timing his leap perfectly to head home a well-delivered Filipe Morais free-kick after 69 minutes.

Ten minutes later, striker Chris Holroyd – Graham Westley’s first signing at Deepdale – headed home his first goal for the club.

The teams exchanged goals and the game stuttered to a halt just as it had begun, with unfocused endeavour across all areas of the field.



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