Latics grab late winner

ATHLETIC 3 NOTTS COUNTY 2

A FREAK goal by substitute Filipe Morais and Zander Diamond’s first for the club earned Athletic an unlikely but deserved victory amid terrible conditions.

Driving rain and some poor defensive work had cloaked Boundary Park in a shroud of gloom, with an excellent strike from Luca Scapuzzi overshadowed by Notts County strikes from former favourite Lee Hughes and Neal Bishop.

It was a surprise when Morais appeared as a replacement for the lively Scapuzzi in the second half – but the winger had a major impact, his attempted cross skidding off the turf and into the net off the far post past stricken County ‘keeper Stuart Nelson.

Morais also had a hand in Diamond’s winner. It was the Portugal-born winger’s corner which was headed back into the mix by Jean-Yves Mvoto at the far post and ex-Aberdeen man Diamond was on hand to poke home inside the six-yard box with four minutes left on the clock.

The win was Athletic’s first in the league since Chesterfield were dispatched by five goals over a month ago – an illustration of how cup euphoria was threatening to overshadow the ‘bread and butter’.

Krystian Pearce sliced behind a Kieran Lee cross as Athletic made a positive start.

But with County causing problems with simple front-to-back deliveries, Lee Hughes nodded home the opening goal in the 10th minute after Alan Sheehan’s corner had been headed back towards the penalty spot. Hamza Bencherif’s volley was off-target, but ex-Athletic predator Hughes was on hand to divert the ball past Alex Cisak.

Chris Taylor missed a glorious chance to equalise, striking inches wide after being set in by Scapuzzi.

The Italian levelled with an excellent effort on 27 minutes. Dean Furman slid a quick pass to his feet on the right of the penalty area and quick feet took him around goalkeeper Stuart Nelson, before sliding and hammering home into an empty goal with his left foot.

Athletic were looking dangerous going forward, but another defensive calamity led to County’s second.

Shefki Kuqi failed to clear just outside his own area and the ball was shifted to Neal Bishop, who tried his luck with a 22-yard shot which was deflected and looped over the helpless Cisak.

Athletic made a positive start to the second half, albeit without fashioning a scoring opportunity early on in driving rain.

Josh Parker should have done better than drive his left-footed cross off-target and out of play when set in by a good pass from Scapuzzi.

Morais proved his worth six minutes after entering the fray.

Taylor claimed he got the final touch. But Morais’ cross from the right wing appeared to evade everyone – including ‘keeper Nelson – before hitting the far post and entering the net.

Athletic were now in control and pushing for a winner, which eventually arrived from an unlikely source.

Morais swung over a left-wing corner, Mvoto was strong at the far post to land his forehead on the ball and Diamond was on hand to turn it home amind a scrum of players, celebrating wildly in front of the Chaddy End.

Taylor almost made the win more emphatic with a left-footed drive which shaved the far post.

But in the end it didn’t matter, as Athletic’s graft and guile paid off to the tune of three points.

Athletic: Cisak; Lee, Mvoto, Diamond, Black; Scapuzzi (Morais 64), Adeyemi, Furman ©, Parker; Taylor, Kuqi. Subs not used: Clarke, Bouzanis, Smith, Mancini.

Notts County: Nelson; Kelly, Edwards, Pearce, Sheehan; Judge (Burgess 53), Bishop, Bencherif (Allen 90, J Hughes; L Hughes, Hawley. Subs not used: Mitchell, Allen, Burgess, Spicer, Hollis.

Referee: M Heywood

Attendance: 3,623