Tranmere Rovers U18 5-0 Oldham Athletic U18
Tanya Blakey

A very young and inexperienced Latics team proved to be second best in a game in which Tranmere seemed to have much more desire and passion.

For an hour the game was actually a close affair, Latics falling behind after 15 minutes when what looked like a hopeful shot was horribly spilled by goalkeeper Anthony White and tapped home by the Tranmere striker, who reacted quicker than any of the static Latics defenders.

The rest of the first half was nip and tuck and actually schoolboy Jack Laird and Phillip McGrath missed good chances to equalise but at the other end Latics defence and goalkeeper were too often second best and Tranmere looked threatening every time they broke forward. The score remained 1-0 until half time.

The interval gave Latics coaches a chance to reshuffle the team and the system and for 20 minutes of the second half, Latics actually improved greatly and had a couple of great chances to equalise.

However, the last 25 minutes of the game saw the young Latics capitulate, their basic defending from set pieces was non existent, and any real desire to get their head on long throw ins and corner kicks was lacking and this resulted in Tranmere adding four more goals, one from a throw in and three from corners.

The second goal was due to both centre halves, Cowan and Esdaille being physically weak, the third another howler by 'keeper White when he palmed a corner kick straight to the Tranmere striker.

The fourth when they failed to deal with a routine cross into the box, Tranmere won the first header, then the second ball, which was smashed home and the fifth when schoolboy Matt Carr lost his marker who volleyed home from close range again due to a real lack of defensive organisation.

Overall, Latics physical and mental deficiencies, it must be said were shown up today and after what has been a decent season for a lot of the young players, this was maybe the reality check that a few of them require.

Coach Tony Philliskirk often says that you often learn more in defeat about players than when they are winning week in, week out and he certainly feels he's learned a few things today about some of the players!

However, he is now looking for a positive reaction in what is going to be a very tough final three games of the season (two against Burnley and one against Wigan), both these teams are above Latics in the League table with a lot to play for.