Terriers sunk by Montano double

Photo: Picture: Alan Howarth

HIGH JUMP: Cristian Montano celebrates his first goal.

ATHLETIC 3, HUDDERSFIELD 2

CRISTIAN Montano followed up his two-goal salvo against Macclesfield with a spectacular brace as Athletic registered a deserved victory over Huddersfield Town in the last of their pre-season friendly matches.

In the sweltering Boundary Park heat, the ‘re-born’ Montano struck in the 71st and 76th minutes to take his tally to four goals in pre-season games and all but ensure his place in the starting XI to face Stevenage in the SkyBet League One season opener in five days' time.

Montano’s first, with Athletic trailing 2-1, was so sweetly struck it may as well have been sugar-coated.

The inspirational Jose Baxter’s 20-yards free kick cannoned off the defensive wall into the path of Montano who, showing excellent

reaction and balance, hit a superb volley from a difficult angle into the top corner of the net.

Brimming with confidence, Montano was at it again five minutes later, latching onto a slick Jonson Clarke-Harris pass before fooling Alex Smithies in the Terriers’ goal in a split-second, eyeball-to-eyeball encounter as he rolled the ball into the net from 16 yards.

But while Montano’s well-taken goals – allied to an all-round, incisive attacking display from this new-look Athletic side – caught the eye, manager Lee Johnson is rightly concerned about his side’s defensive qualities which were exposed to the full by the Championship outfit.

While Connor Brown excelled at right-back and Jonathan Grounds

performed solidly on the opposite flank, both of the Terriers' goals were planted home smack bang in the middle of the six-yard box with Mark Oxley in the Athletic goal powerless to prevent either of them.

Athletic took a first-half lead when Baxter coolly stroked the ball home from the penalty spot after the lively Adam Rooney – who once again teamed up promisingly with Charlie MacDonald – had been upended by Paul Dixon.

Mark Robins’ side took control with two goals in three minutes shortly after the restart.

First, Cristian Lopez nodded home comfortably and, as the Athletic back line wilted like dry flowers in the heat, Martin Patterson was on hand from the same distance to turn in an inviting Jack Hunt delivery.

Then came Montano’s delightful double strike as Athletic regained the advantage.

And it was Oxley who maintained his side's lead in the closing stages with a great stop, diving low to his left to keep out a goal-bound Danny Ward drive.

It has been a successful pre-season of friendly matches for Athletic, but the serious business of league – and cup – football is on the horizon.