OLDHAM ATHLETIC U18 3 (Dawson, Winters, Edwards)
Port Vale U18 3
By Tanya Blakey

This was a fine football game between two teams who looked to get the ball and play at every opportunity.

However, the young Latics will feel this was a great opportunity lost to have won the game as they did dominate possession for long periods and they created a succession of chances, which they contrived to miss in both halves.

Port Vale actually started the game much brighter and but for a fine save by Josh Bell, the Latics could have been a goal down in the first ten minutes.

As time went on, they gradually got a foothold in the game, and lively forward play meant they were beginning to trouble the Port Vale back line.

Subsequently, from a right-sided set piece, Ruairidh Winters got across his man in the box and headed home to put Latics 1-0 up.

This seemed to give the Latics confidence as they were now dominating the play and they were soon 2-0 up when a fine run by full back Liam Dawson ended with him firing home right-footed.

However, Latics Achilles heel struck again and in a five minute period before half-time the scores were level, when weak defending down Latics' left-hand side (twice) led to Port Vale levelling the scores, when basic defending could have prevented both goals.

The second half was a very open affair with both teams going for the victory and chances being created at both ends.

Latics did have the clearer cut opportunities, but their final ball/cross/finish once again let them down too often.

Port Vale edged ahead through a fine individual goal but credit to the Latics, they didn't let this affect them too much, as they stormed back in the last 15 minutes to put Port Vale under pressure.

It came as no surprise then a Ryan Brooke flick-on was finished excellently by the lively Adam Edwards.

Latics laid siege to the Port Vale in search of a winner, but they just didn't manage the fourth goal, which would have won them the game, due to some fine goalkeeping and wayward finishing.  The final scoreline remained at 3-3.

This was a 'typical' performance this season, where they continue to look a real threat going forward, scoring goals and missing great chances, whereas defensively, they looked very suspect and are too easily opened up, thus allowing the opposition chances to score too readily.

Latics actually are the top scorers in the division, but only the bottom three have conceded more goals than them!  A frustrating fact and it's obvious where further improvement is required.