Boss’s faith repaid by young team

FEELGOOD FACTOR:Kirk Millar and team mates celebrate his equalising goal.

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Orient 1, Athletic 1

THE THEME of a celebratory, stress-free day out for Athletic supporters was outrageous fancy dress.

By the time the final whistle brought down the curtain on a turbulent campaign, there was further promise on the pitch that the change of manager six weeks ago was not simply an exercise in handing the emperor a new wardrobe.

Though results have remained inconsistent, on the whole there is a running thread of vitality about Athletic at the moment.

This last-day occasion at Brisbane Road was all about the visitors’ youthful endeavour.

Kirk Millar, who turns 21 in two months' time, was one of the elder statesmen in the team.

Three years after making his bow under Dave Penney, the man Johnson has allowed to become an improvising free spirit up front registered his first senior goal to draw Athletic deservedly level seconds after half-time.

Cristian Montano won a 50-50 challenge on the left flank and crossed low.

Captain Jose Baxter could only stretch to prod the ball towards Millar, who connected just-about cleanly enough to send the ball trickling home off a post.

The celebration, in which the Belfast-born player stood motionless while being mobbed, perhaps needs some work. But such restraint wasn’t shown to the left of the goal. Millar’s strike sent Hulk Hogan, the English Crusader, Zippy, a cowboy in leopard print and a hamburger with a horse’s head on top into raptures.

Without a play-offs hope, Orient played only in patches, though their goal was an impressive effort. Jimmy Smith raced on to a pass sent down the right channel, watched the ball carefully on to his right foot and smashed it beyond Dean Bouzanis after only 10 minutes.

With the likes of Danny Gosset making his debut in midfield and Glenn Belezika at the back, Athletic could have gone into their shell at conceding against the run of play. Instead Athletic bossed the opening half-hour and Lee Croft went very close with a great strike Jones did well to tip over the top.

Russell Slade’s side had two shots on target all game, though they did come close when in the ascendancy towards the end when Dean Cox hit an upright.

By that time, left-back Jack Truelove was on the field for his debut. It was almost a winning one, with fellow replacement Robbie Simpson forcing another superb Jones stop with a brutal drive from the edge of the penalty area.

Montano also stung the palms of the goalkeeper on more than one occasion.

The one other thing that would have made this occasion better for the supporters was a Croft goal.

In the eyes of many the club’s outstanding player in 2012-13, the former Manchester City prodigy was encouraged to break his scoring duck at every turn.

In an era of six-packs and boy band haircuts, throwback winger Croft is one of the fan’s own. He pointedly waved at Athletic’s section when substituted and all will want to see the out-of-contract player back in pre-season training under Johnson.

Whether that happens, only time will tell. Part one of Johnson’s task is complete, but part two of moulding his squad virtually from scratch has only just started.

It is all about building for 2013-14 now.