Oldham Athletic Res 1 - 3 Wolves Res
Stu Vose at Boundary Park

Youngster Tom Eaves was on target as Lee Duxbury's battling reserves lost out to Wolves at Boundary Park.

The second string put up a convincing performance against a visiting side containing England U21 star Michael Kightly but didn't get the further goals their showing merited.

Wolves youngster Ashley Hemmings bagged a brace before the break, sandwiched by an inspired strike from young prospect Eaves.

And substitute Liam Hughes added a third 19 minutes from time to secure the points, although Athletic did create chances in the final stages.

Forget the result -- Duxbury's young charges can be pleased with their application and overall night's work.

Despite fielding just two professionals they more than held their own for long periods against experienced opposition.

First-year pro Ashley Kelly again figured in midfield while Andy Liddell completed 57 trouble-free minutes on the right flank.

Meanwhile, the coaching staff also checked on trialist Gavin Rothery, who has arrived from League One counterparts Leeds United.

Ryan Brooke fired over early on and Eaves saw a header blocked by a well-placed defender as Athletic pressed forward in the early stages.

Eaves then turned marker Matthew Bailey inside out only to be shut out by visiting keeper Carl Ikeme, while Josh Ollerenshaw managed to get in the way of a shot from the impressive Kightly at the other end.

But the home keeper was eventually beaten on 34 minutes when Hemmings exchanged passes with Denes Rosa before slotting home from six yards.

Bailey almost added a second when he was denied by Ollerenshaw at close range, but Latics were level soon afterwards thanks to a finish of real quality.

Eaves latched on to Andy Liddell's high ball before cutting between Mark Little and John Dunleavy and curling a shot into the far corner from just inside the box.

Back came Wolves, who went in at the break ahead when Hemmings stabbed home his second of the game after youngster Josh Rose had blocked Dunleavy's header on the line.

The Wanderers striker was denied his hat-trick in the second period when another close-range effort was chalked out for offside.

But Bobby Mimms' visitors had their third goal 19 minutes from the end when sub Hughes latched on to Alex Melbourne's slide-rule pass and steered a low shot beyond Ollerenshaw.

The young keeper did well to tip Rosa's free-kick over the bar in the final minutes, while Athletic were denied what would have been a deserved second goal right at the end.

Ryan Brooke broke through and loosed off a powerful shot from close range, but Ikeme got a hand to the ball and managed to direct the rebound just beyond the waiting Eaves.

Oldham: Ollerenshaw, Winters, Rose, Chalmers, Knight, Diaz, Liddell (Bembo-Leta, 57), Rothery (Kilcourse, 74), Eaves, Brooke, Kelly.
Subs Not Used: Rowney, White, Walsh.
Goals: Eaves 37.
Booked: Brooke.

Wolves: Ikeme, Bailey, Malone, Salmon, Little, Dunleavy, Kightly (Hughes, 46), Ijaha (Melbourne, 69), Hemmings, Rosa, S Ward (D Davis, 76).
Subs Not Used: Lumley, K Bennett.
Goals: Hemmings 34, 45, Hughes 71.

Ref: Mr R Wigglesworth