I was determined to make an impact

The Latics striker writes every week for Chron Sport


THERE we went again! Latics have had another week of indifferent results and performances.

Last Saturday we managed a 1-0 home win against a tough Gillingham side, but no player had to work harder then Mark Oxley who produced a string of brilliant saves to ensure we took all three points.

Unfortunately I again found myself among the substitutes. I hoped I would get the nod from the start in this match, but it wasn’t to be.

I was disappointed not making the first 11 as my children were watching the game, but it was a positive result which meant as players we were all in good spirits at the final whistle.

Gary Harkins once again showed why the gaffer has brought him to the club, with a left-foot bullet of a strike that flashed across the ’keeper into the far corner.

It wasn’t a surprise to me to see him score from where he did as I see him conjure up bits of magic in training every day.

The story of this season is the team’s inconsistency — again on show midweek against MK Dons.

It was a strange fixture for me: I didn’t expect to be in the starting line-up and only found out that I was an hour before kick-off. But I was excited because it was against one of my former clubs, so I was determined to make an impact.

The first 45 minutes were nothing short of shocking; I can’t remember a passage of play where Athletic put together any passing sequence.

After going two goals down, the gaffer made a triple substitution at half-time and reshuffled the pack.

We improved and had a go in the second half, but we inevitably lost the tie on the poor first-half show.

I was relatively pleased with my own performance. I felt good after being on the bench in previous weeks, and I managed to get on the scoresheet. But it all counted for nothing.

Tomorrow gives us a chance to bounce back with a difficult battle away at Tranmere Rovers.