Latics miss out on final glory

THE debut of Athletic’s golden oldies in the Screwfix Masters Cup so nearly ended in glory as they reached the final of the North West qualifier.

But their hopes of making September’s grand final of the over-35s competition at Birmingham’s NEC were dashed by Manchester City.

Former City striker Mike Sheron, now youth team coach at Bury, scored the only goal of a tightly-contested final to deny Athletic.

But, there will be a former Athletic player in the final as the City side included defender Steve Redmond, a winner of the grand final with City in 2003.

The 41-year-old, who is now working as a lorry driver for a builders merchants in Liverpool, said: “It is the only football I play and appearing in front of a crowd again certainly gets the adrenaline pumping.

“I think any footballer will tell you that when you stop playing what you also miss is the banter among the lads.

“And it is great to meet up with them once a year for this competition, not only with former team-mates but those I have played against in the past.

“In the last three or four years it has become much more competitive, and we knew it was going to be tough as it proved.”

Those comments were echoed by Athletic’s Rick Holden, a previous winner in the competition with City in 2003, who had travelled from the Isle of Man to take part in the event.

Holden said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the tournament and we were unlucky not to win.

“It was brilliant to join up with all the lads again and I thought we did really well.”

Athletic, whose squad comprised Jon Hallworth, Tony Philliskirk, Darren Sheridan, David Eyres, Mike Milligan, Lee Duxbury, Mike Milligan, Rick Holden and Andy Ritchie, were grouped with Bolton and Blackburn while Manchester United, City and Leeds were paired together.

Goals from David Eyres and Andy Ritchie gave Oldham a 2-0 lead in their opening group game against Bolton, who featured former Athletic keeper Andy Rhodes.

Bolton hit back with efforts from Alan Thompson and David Lee to force a 2-2 draw.

Athletic secured their final place defeating Blackburn 4-1 with goals from Tommy Wright (2), Ritchie and Mike Milligan.

In the other group City, whose side included Ali Benarbia, beat United 2-1 and Leeds 4-1 to earn their passage to the final which was decided by Sheron’s strike.