Dream nears reality for Latics
Reporter: by SIMON SMEDLEY
Date published: 13 November 2013
Athletic 5, Notts County 1
RAMPANT Athletic tore Notts County to shreds as they edged ever closer to a Johnstone's Paint Trophy final at Wembley.
Lee Johnson's classy outfit roared into the Northern section semi-finals courtesy of a clinical display in front of goal, though there was a dramatic late sour note when Jordan Bove - on his 18th birthday - was sent off just three minutes into his senior debut.
The ugly lunge which left County debutant Kieron Freeman crumpled in a heap just in front of the technical areas led to a fracas that initially threatened to boil over towards the end of what had already been a feisty second half.
However, tempers did eventually calm down - just about - probably helped by Jonson Clarke-Harris's well-deserved goal which completed the rout in the 96th minute.
That was a fitting end to a night of non-stop thrills and spills, and now Wembley is just a tantalising three games away.
As expected, manager Johnson did tinker with his starting line-up again ahead of the third game in this season's competition. The Athletic boss opted for four changes following the weekend draw with Wolves.
Mark Oxley was given a rest so veteran Paul Rachubka was in for his second start this term after impressing in the previous round's win at Preston.
A tight hamstring kept out James Wesolowski, but in Anton Rodgers there was a ready-made replacement as he had shaken off his bout of illness.
It was sickness which ruled out David Mellor, but loanee left-back Joseph Mills was available again so he was another straight swap.
Finally, Adam Rooney was dropped to the bench, while starting in his place was Cristian Montano following his efforts as a substitute on Saturday.
New Magpies boss Shaun Derry made three changes as he went in search of a first win in his second game in charge, but it was Athletic who almost got the goalscoring under way after barely two minutes.
Danny Philliskirk - whose reputation continues to grow with every game he plays at this level - was quick out of the blocks as he found space and curled an exquisite shot against the foot of a post.
It was to be Sky Bet League One's basement outfit who were to break the deadlock, however.
Thirteen minutes were on the clock when James Tarkowski uncharacteristically allowed himself to be robbed of the ball inside his own box by Ronan Murray, and the Magpies' front-man charged clear before slotting neatly underneath Rachubka from a tight angle.
There were a few rumbles of early discontent from the Boundary Park faithful, but they needn't have worried. By half-time their talented young team were in front and already looked to be in cruise control.
Tarkowski levelled it after half-an-hour, redeeming himself with a smartly-taken volley after he ghosted in unmarked at the far post to meet skipper Korey Smith's pinpoint cross.
Minutes before the break the hosts were awarded a penalty when County centre-back Gary Liddle clumsily felled James Dayton and Philliskirk almost nonchalantly crashed home from the spot.
That settled everyone down inside the stadium, and though Derry made a couple of attacking changes at the break, his side were pretty much done for once they were reduced to 10 men shortly before the hour mark.
Captain Dean Leacock bundled over Clarke-Harris as the big man was charging towards the box to meet Montano's cross, leaving referee Mr Haines with little option other than to brandish his red card.
After that the Magpies were grounded, particularly when Dayton latched on to Philliskirk's measured pass and drilled home to make it 3-1.
Philliskirk helped himself to his second goal and Athletic's fourth after 84 minutes, capping a sweeping move and a cross from Dayton with a devastating finish into the roof of the net from 12 yards.
Then came Bove's incredible short, though not-so-forgettable appearance as a late substitute, before grafter Clarke-Harris wrapped up a worthwhile evening's work with a tap-in from a rebound after ’keeper Fabian Spiess had saved Philliskirk's initial shot.
Cries of 'Wem-ber-leeyyy' rang round Boundary Park at the final whistle, and on this form, who's to say Athletic won't go on to reach their dream final date?
