Youth team boss Tony Philliskirk was full of praise for his players after they sealed their passage through to the final of the Lancashire FA Professional Youth Cup with a 3-4 victory over Bolton.
Two goals from Rio Murray and Brendy Glackin were enough to seal the win, despite a late Bolton Wanderers fight back and Philliskirk was delighted for his team.
He said: "I’m absolutely chuffed for the lads and the staff. It’s the third year in a row for a cup final and I’m really pleased for the players.
“It’s been a sticky couple of weeks in the league where we should have won games and that could have put pay to our league chances but this was a big game to keep our season alive and they have won the game.
"Bolton are a higher category than us and to go there and get the win was really pleasing. It’s now another final to look forward to and the lads can’t wait.”
It was a game played in difficult conditions but Philliskirk believed his side could have maybe kept hold of the ball more in the first half, before dominating the second.
“It was like four seasons in a day,” he commented. “One minute it was sunny, then it was blowing a gale, then it was hailstone and it lashed down with rain so it was crazy.
“It was difficult for both sets of players but I’ve got to be honest, I thought Bolton were the better side in the first half.
"We were slack in possession, I know it was hard for the lads, but I don’t feel we did enough to keep hold of the ball.
“I didn’t think we deserved to be in front at half time so we had a nice interesting chat at half time and I thought we played a lot better in the second half.
"Everything was better in the second half. Chris Renshaw made a crucial save at 1-1 which kept us in the game and then we had a purple patch for six or seven minutes and managed to win the game.”
Philliskirk continued: “I thought the fourth goal was excellent. It was probably our best passage of play in the game. We kept the ball, sucked them in and Brendy rounded the goalkeeper to score.
"We were cruising at 4-1 with two minutes of the game but as we sometimes do, we concede a silly goal. I did think it was a foul on the goalkeeper but the referee didn’t give it.
“Then we didn’t mark a man at the back post and he’s made it 4-3 and they win a late corner but it was cleared thankfully.”
“I can’t be critical as we have had our injuries and it’s been stop start but this result keeps our season alive so I give the lads a lot of credit."
Blackpool await Latics in the final of the competition and the youth team boss is keen to keep the momentum from the whole club going.
“There is a feel good factor around the club at the moment with the first team doing well and the youth team reaching the final so everything is positive.
“Blackpool are a good team but on the day we are hoping the good Oldham Athletic youth team turn up and pick up a bit of silverware which they deserve,” he said.