MATCH REPORT: MORECAMBE YOUTH
Saturday 12th December 2009
OAFC - 2
(Hughes, McGrath)
MORECAMBE - 1
Whilst the score line may suggest a tight game Latics could have recorded a much more emphatic victory over Morecambe at weekend.
Boss Tony Philliskirk was forced to field a relatively young team, made up of predominantly U16 and U17's, against the Young Shrimps after a collection of injuries saw his side finish the game with just 9 men the week before.
Athletic started the game very brightly and could have been four up in the first ten minutes, when Matt D Carr, Matt A Carr, Will McCall and Connor Hughes all missed golden opportunities.
The opening minutes were by no means exceptional, however, as Latics play through the middle third opened up the Morecambe defence time and again, with a combination of inspired goalkeeping and poor finishing prevented Athletic from opening the scoring before the half time interval.
Having been practically a spectator for the first 45 minutes Shaun Routledge must have feared another half with little to do when Latics finally broke the deadlock on the hour mark.
Connor Hughes broke free of the Morecambe backline finished what was one of the more difficult chances Latics had created with a neat finish past the Morecambe 'keeper.
Latics 1-0 Morecambe
(Hughes)
The pressure from Latics was relentless, a series of fine set piece deliveries by Phillip McGrath not capitalised upon before McGrath himself gave Latics some breathing space, on racing clear to smartly slot home from 12 yards.
Latics 2-0 Morecambe
(McGrath)
However, Latics dominance was almost undone when a series of mistakes led to Morecambe gaining a penalty, dispatched with ease, making the score 2-1 with 5 minutes left to play.
Thankfully Latics were able to see out the tie to record another valuable win.
F/T Latics 2-1 Morecambe
The young Latics players now go into their winter break on the back of a good result and can look forward to a rest before their next fixture, away to Accrington on January 9th 2010.
