Youngsters claim semi-final place
Latics under-18's beat Blackpool 4-2 this afternoon to win through to the semi finals of the Lancashire FA Youth Cup.Again to coin a well-worn cliche, it was the game of contrasting fortunes in each half for Latics at Chapel Road.
They played some superb passing football to establish a commanding 3-0 interval lead.
Latics then took their foot off the pedal - they must have thought victory was in the bag - and had to endure some anxious moments.
Luke Wandless scored Latics' first two goals, an angled shot across the face of goal and penalty after a foul on John Pritchard.
Central-defender Joe Cooper added the third after a sortie forward from the back and playing a return pass with Danny Gossett.
Latics could have scored more, though their keeper Joel Coleman made two decent saves.
George Lomax pulled a goal back for Blackpool early in the second half after Latics failed to clear a left-wing cross.
Carlton McIntosh wasted two great chances to make it 4-1 while Blackpool could also have reduced the deficit to 3-2.
Latics finally added a fourth goal with nine minutes left when substitute Haydn Foulds delivered a low cross from the right which was neatly converted by Chris Sutherland.
Substitute Jordan Bove had two great chances in quick succession add a fifth goal before Blackpool struck again when they failed to clear a right-wing cross and John Fraser found the net.
Latics had one further chance in stoppage time when John Pritchard's effort was well saved and Foulds fired the rebound narrowly over the crossbar.
In the semi finals, Latics will play either Rochdale, Bury or Burnley.
Latics: Coleman, Hardman, Edwards, Truelove, Cooper, Poxon (Kinder 68), Sutherland, Gosset, McIntosh (Bove 77), Wandless (Foulds 73), Pritchard. Subs (not used): L Simpson, Brewster.