Three players badly injured in defeat
Latics' under-18's 1-0 home defeat by Macclesfield Town in the Football League Youth Alliance, North West Conference came at a heavy price.Haydn Foulds, Danny Gosset and Will Kinder were all badly hurt in the loss to the Silkmen at Chapel Road.
Foulds was taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital with a suspected broken ankle, Gosset also picked up a bad ankle injury and Kinder a pulled calf muscle.
The injuries all came in a 10-minute spell early in the second half when Latics also conceded the only goal of the game, a free header from a corner.
Head of Youth Tony Philliskirk effectively played a team of first-year scholars as many of the second years will be needed for reserve-team action on Tuesday.
Philliskirk says he could not fault his team's overall display as they were denied by the woodwork three times and had an abundance of other chances.
"It was one defensive lapse which cost us while at the other end we lacked ruthlessness, but we played some great football which was a positive," he said.
Foulds and Tomos Jones hit the crossbar in the goalless opening half while Gosset had one cleared off the line.
It remained one-way traffic for most of the second period as Tom Clarke struck the frame of the goal, Carlton McIntosh had one cleared off the line while Jordan Bove had a couple of great chances.
The Macc keeper also pulled off some important saves as Latics did everything but find the net as it was a case of smash and grab as the visitors left with three points.