Lee Duxbury was left disappointed as his side slipped to defeat against Stockport last night to continue their winless run.

Latics' second string have yet to pick up a point this season, but put up a decent fight against County only to be hit by three hammer blows.

Coach Duxbury has been forced to field a team including several first-year apprentices due to availability problems, with several players who would usually figure either injured or out on loan.

Striker Matty Wolfenden was kept with the first team squad, while fellow fowards Lewis Alessandra (foot) and Deane Smalley (knee) are both injured. 

Meanwhile goalkeeper Les Pogliacomi (knee) and defender Stefan Stam (hamstring) are also out, and defensive pair Kelvin Lomax and Marcus Holness are out on loan at Rochdale.

"It was an even match until the goalkeeping error for the first goal, but after that the lads' heads went down," Duxbury said.  "But the pleasing thing was the lads kept passing the ball.

"I always tell you what the reserves are all about but at the end of the day I'm fed up of losing week in, week out.  We struggled up front and are desperate for Lewis [Alessandra] and Deane [Smalley] to come back in and give us their hold-up play.

"If you look at the players we've got out we'd have a decent team, and I don't like making excuses about the kids but some of them aren't ready just yet.  They've just got to get on with the job as best they can.

"Despite everything, out of all our games so far I only think we deserved to lose one, against Shrewsbury.  All the others have been quite even, really."