FA Lancashire Youth Cup Quarter-Final

Oldham Athletic U18 1-3 Burnley U18
Tanya Blakey

Latics bowed out of the Lancashire Youth Cup, but if there is a way to lose the game, this was it.  Against much stronger and older opposition, the Latics put in what Tony Philliskirk thought was one of their best performances of the season and genuinely felt they were unlucky to lose the tie.

The young Latics started very promisingly and had Burnley on the back foot with the lively front two, Brooke and McGrath causing Burnley many problems with their strong running and McGrath was unlucky not to put Latics ahead when his fine shot on the turn was cleared off the line midway through the first half. 

A very young defensive backline was keeping the highly rated Burnley front two in check and the midfield battle was being contested very strongly and evenly in all areas. Latics however, were caught with the sucker punch five minutes before half time when unbelievably they conceded two goals, one from a set piece and one from a breakaway when Latics were in the ascendancy.

The half time team talk was very positive from the staff as they felt Latics had more than matched their opponents.  Latics began the second half again in a very positive fashion and their effort and work rate was rewarded when fine play between Kilcourse, Rowney and McGrath led to Dawson firing home on the far post to give Latics hope.

They pressed for an equaliser, and Ryan Brooke came close with a fine header and McGrath had an effort again kicked off the line as Latics pressed, but as has so often happened this season, another individual error led to Burnley scrambling a third with 10 minutes to go.

Latics continued to push forward and one or two half-chances went begging, but it was not to be and the game finished 1-3.