Oldham Athletic youth team have reached the final of the Lancashire FA Professional Youth Cup after a 4-3 victory over Bolton Wanderers.
Two goals from Rio Murray and Brendy Glackin secured the victory, however, it was a nervy ending as Bolton pulled two goals back late on.Murray had given Latics the lead before Bolton forward Matthew Fearnley equalised on the stroke of half time.
Latics struck three times within six minutes to make it 4-1 going into the final 10 minutes of the game.
However, in the final minutes of the game Bolton pulled two goals back through Harry Brockbank and Luca Navarro but Latics just managed to hold on to win the game and set up a repeat of the 2014 final between Latics and Blackpool.
Bolton Wanderers were the first to go close on seven minutes but midfielder Ryan White’s shot cannoned off the crossbar and away to safety.
Latics took the lead three minutes later as Murray guided Glackin’s cross into the top corner to give Tony Philliskirk’s men a dream start.
The youngsters almost grabbed a second as Lee Knight’s goal bound shot was cleared off the line by a Bolton Wanderers defender.
Athletic were being cheered on by first team players George Edmundson, Joel Coleman and Anthony Gerrard, with the latter offering tips and advice throughout the game.
Bolton put the pressure on Latics towards the end of the half and managed to grab an equaliser.
After Luca Navarro’s shot had been tipped behind for a corner by Chris Renshaw, he went over to take the set piece and planted the ball on the head of Fearnley who nodded Bolton back into the game.
It would be the hosts who should have taken the lead after the break but Renshaw was in inspired form, firstly denying Navarro after the striker raced through on goal and minutes later, he was out quickly to deny Fearnley.
With 15 minutes remaining, Latics got themselves ahead as Murray grabbed his second of the game.
The striker received the ball in the penalty area after Knight’s through ball and he slotted into the corner to put Latics in front.
Two minutes later and Glackin beat Bolton goalkeeper Will Jaaaskelainen at his front post to put the young Latics in complete control.
They completed their dominant five minutes with their fourth goal of the game, and what a goal it was.
The ball was fizzed into Knight on the edge of the box and his exquisite touch found Glackin who rounded the goalkeeper and tapped into an open goal to all but seal victory.
Or so Latics thought, as with only two minutes remaining Bolton managed to grab a goal back.
Brockbank rose highest from a corner to head into the goal, despite claims from all the Oldham Athletic players that goalkeeper Chris Renshaw had been fouled.
The young Latics were clearly rattled by the decision and Bolton capitalised on 90 minutes as Navarro got his name on the scoresheet to make it a nervy ending.
However, Philliskirk’s men managed to clear a late corner and progress through to the final of the Lancashire FA Professional Youth Cup for the second time in three years.
Oldham Athletic: Renshaw, Mantack, King, Stott (c), Middleton, Knight (Dry 82’), Read, Uche (Antoine 69’), Hargreaves, Murray (Brown 89’), Glackin.
Subs not used: O’Neill, Lent.