Latics v Blackpool
Saturday 14 November 2009
Youth Alliance League Game

BLACKPOOL - 0
OAFC - 2
(Andrew Crompton, Nicky Zaicevs)

Latics fielded a team with several changes from the side that beat Stalybridge Celtic in the FA Youth Cup earlier in the week for their seaside test against Blackpool.

Like the first team on the Kent coast the conditions for the youngsters on the Lancashire coast were atrocious, resulting in a game that didn't have any real flow or consistent quality in it.

Kicking with the near gale force wind at their backs in the first half, it took the Latics side until midway through the period to master the conditions.

Once again the young side spurned several good chances from well worked set-pieces in the game, until Andy Crompton met a floated Will McCall cross to guide the ball home with a well executed header.

Blackpool 0-1 Latics

The second half was a big test for Athletic, especially the back four, who were playing together as a unit for the first time whilst facing a very strong wind. Latics managed to keep Blackpool at bay well and goalkeeper Shaun Routledge had very little to do for the visitors.

Like the in the first, Latics created the better of the second half and doubled their advantage when Latvian winger Nicky Zaicevs broke into the box to coolly slot the ball past the Blackpool keeper.

Blackpool 0-2 Latics

The goal seemed to kill off any hope Blackpool had of getting back into the game, and Latics were able to generate many other chances as they went looking to punish a Blackpool side that had lost its collective spirit.

Had Latics shown more composure in the final third the gulf on the pitch could have been reflected on the score sheet, but a solid performance which included a fine captain's display by Rico Ramsey, returning for his first 90 minutes of 2009 following an injury blighted scholarship, allowed Athletic to come out comfortable winners.