Youngsters lose to Saddlers
Walsall are the early-season scourge of Latics.Four days after the Saddlers drew 1-1 at Boundary Park in npower League One, they were back in town.
This time Latics under-18's lost 4-1 against Walsall at Chapel Road in their opening game of the season in the Football League Youth Alliance's North West Conference.
Head of Youth Tony Philliskirk described the result as a "travesty" saying while the result was poor, the performance certainly wasn't.
"We more than matched Walsall, but all four goals were down to individual errors," he said.
Latics were punished for a series of defensive howlers while missing a host of chances at the opposite end of the pitch.
After dominating the opening half, Latics found incredibly themselves 2-1 down at the break.
Goalkeeper Luke Simpson was at fault for the opening dropping a free kick over his own line.
And defender Jack Truelove failed to clear the danger for the second on the stroke of half time.
Sandwiched in-between was a terrific free kick from Danny Gossett into the top corner of the net.
Gossett also struck the inside of the post with a free kick while Carlton McIntosh and Luke Wandless had great chances to score in the opening period.
Wandless had an effort blocked on the goalline while the Saddlers keeper made a great save from McIntosh as Latics pressed for an equaliser early in the second half.
The killer blow came when Walsall added a third goal when a shot from 25 yards slipped through the hands of Simpson.
Philliskirk made three changes but they failed to make an impact.
And Walsall added a fourth goal when Joe Edwards was shoved off the ball and the ball was smashed into the net off the underside of the crossbar.
Philliskirk was pleased with midfield man Jack Poxon who played an hour as he regains fitness after a lengthy injury lay off.
He also praised Joe Cooper, Kyle Hardman, Chris Sutherland and McIntosh who all had good games.