11th February 2000    

Gills previews

ATHLETIC are sweating on the fitness of John Sheridan as they prepare for tomorrow's visit of cup heroes Gillingham. Sheridan, the midfield man who makes them tick, is still troubled by a neck injury and could miss his second successive game. Richard Graham stepped in at Millwall last week and will probably keep his place if the veteran doesn't make it. Athletic were confident that Sheridan would recover and it would be a severe blow if he missed out against a Gillingham side overflowing with confidence. The Gills are seventh in the table, but an FA Cup run has been the high point of their season. After beating Bradford and Sheffield Wednesday, they face a quarter-final tie at glamour club Chelsea. 

Athletic's plans also hinge on a selection dilemma, with Craig Dudley's return to fitness providing a different option up front. Dudley, who set up two goals for the reserves on Wednesday night, could come in for Matthew Tipton. Tipton will be banned after tomorrow's match due to his sending off at Millwall. His place is under serious threat, although Dudley may be held back for a short, sharp burst if Athletic are in trouble later in the game. Midfield starlet Danny Boshell retains his place in the squad, along with back-up striker Ryan Sugden. Athletic will be aiming to build on a vastly-improved record which has seen them win three on the trot at Boundary Park. They have conceded only one goal in five home games — but promotion-chasing Gillingham have hit 47 this season to become the third highest scorers in the division.

ATHLETIC (from): Kelly, S McNiven, Garnett, Hotte, Adams, Holt, Rickers, Duxbury, Sheridan, Graham, Whitehall, Tipton, Dudley, Jones, Innes, Boshell, Sugden, Miskelly. 

Gillingham will have to re-organise after defender Adrian Pennock pulled out of the trip due to injury.

GILLINGHAM (from): Bartram, Southall, Edge, Ashby, Butters, Saunders, Hessenthaler, Lewis, Smith, Gooden, Onuora, Thomson, Rowe, Hodge, Nosworthy, Mitten.

Trialists Kon Antoniou and Peter Mihalopoulos have left Athletic and returned to Australia. Defender Antoniou was not thought up to scratch, while Mihalopoulos was nippy up front but not the kind of player Athletic are looking for.

TWO-GOAL Danny Boshell was again the star of the show last night as Athletic kept up their 100-per-cent record in the Manchester Senior Cup. The reserves have now won three out of three in this competition and another victory at the round-robin stage would virtually secure their place in a second successive final. Boshell inspired them at Gigg Lane, crowning a stylish midfield display with his side’s 54th-minute winner. The 18-year-old is currently in the form of his life and, after having his first senior involvement at Millwall on Saturday, thoroughly deserves another call into the squad. The game was also significant for four Athletic players coming back from injury. Craig Dudley made two of the goals in a lively display and Paul Beavers played the full 90 minutes, but long-term absentees Stuart Thom and Phil Salt looked understandably rusty as second-half substitutes. It took a good save from Bury ‘keeper Mark Cartwright to prevent Beavers opening the scoring within 50 seconds of kick-off. But Bury went in front after 16 minutes when Baichung Bhutia, their Indian international forward, converted a cross from former Athletic man Adrian Littlejohn.

Just after the half-hour, Athletic got back on level terms through Boshell, who curled a delightful 20-yard free-kick into the top corner. Bhutia restored Bury’s lead 10 minutes later with another composed finish from inside the area. And an excellent first half ended 2-2 when Dudley’s enterprising run and cross ended in a sidefoot finish for Danny Walsh, although Beavers claimed he got a touch as the ball crossed the line. The high tempo continued after the break when Boshell slid in his second after a flowing move, again initiated by Dudley. There seemed to be more goals to come as both sides looked useful going forward and shaky in defence. Athletic sub Ryan Sugden forced another good stop from Cartwright but, only six minutes from time, Bury’s Chris Armstrong missed the biggest sitter of the night when he scuffed his shot in front of an open goal.

ATHLETIC: Miskelly, Tait, Smith, Graham (Thom 45), Jones, Futcher, Walsh (Salt 75), Boshell, Innes, Beavers, Dudley (Sugden 62). Subs (not used): Campbell, Roberts.