Up and running

Photo: PICTURE: DARREN ROBINSON

JUMP TO IT: Athletic midfielder Dean Furman climbs above his Mossley rival to win a header.

YOUSSOUF Mchangama was the star turn as Athletic ran out comfortable 3-0 victors in the first friendly of pre-season against Mossley last night.

If there was an element of luck about the midfielder’s late goal — a drive from the edge of the penalty area which took a heavy deflection on its way in — it was deserved for an energetic display in the centre after the break.

Impressive in Athletic’s second-half XI — different sides were fielded in each half — was striker Matt Smith, who scored with a neat low drive and put another effort no more than a foot wide.

New left-back Jonathan Grounds also performed with promising efficiency.

Athletic were a goal up at half-time thanks to a Robbie Simpson penalty.

On balance, the initial line-up fielded was the more effective. Right-back Connor Brown and Lee Croft created opportunities with raids down the flank and, with David Mellor keeping it simple in midfield alongside energetic partner James Wesolowski, the opening period was mainly one-way traffic.

James Tarkowski earned the spot-kick after 14 minutes with a neat turn in the box which prompted Gary Gee into making a mistimed challenge. Simpson’s penalty was struck firm and high to the right, giving the Mossley keeper no chance.

With only Tarkowski returning in the second half, Athletic started brightly again.

New striker Dan Taylor’s chest down to partner Smith enabled the tall man to fire home clinically to double the advantage.

Despite the long grass making passing difficult, Dickov’s men continued to knock the ball around well against a game Lilywhites side.

Mchangama’s goal was all-but the last act of a decent first run-out for Athletic.



AFTERWARDS Athletic manager Paul Dickov declared himself satisfied with the win.

“We have more quality than that, we know that,” Dickov said. “But it was a fitness session. The boys had a double training session on both Monday and Tuesday and worked hard in the morning of the game.

“We wanted them to be tired, so in the circumstances and given the state the pitch, we have got to be reasonably happy.

“A big plus was that we didn’t get any injuries.”



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