Oldham Athletic’s Interim Academy Manager has praised the Youth Team’s resilience following two games in three days.
The Young Latics progressed through to the Second Round of the FA Youth Cup with a 1-6 win at away at Altrincham U18 before being held 1-1 by Grimsby Town U18 on Saturday in the league.
Peter Wild believes the team faced up to the challenge of a quick turnaround well.
“I thought the lads really dug in,” he said.
“Some lads had to play another 90 minutes after playing on Thursday.
“Some lads who didn’t get a chance on Thursday came in and played and some played a little bit of the game as well.
“We had a little bit of a sluggish start, they ended up going 0-1 up but in the second half I thought we were back to where we normally are, we were far the better side.
“The most pleasing thing on the day was what we had been working on in the week came out in abundance on Saturday.
“We were disappointed with how we played on Thursday night but certainly in the second half on Saturday we were really pleased with how we played.”
Kyle Wych’s follow up a Max Norman effort to find the back of the net, giving Latics the equaliser in the second half.
But the Youth Team couldn’t find a winner on the day.
“I thought their keeper had a really good game in the second half, he denied us getting that winner.” Wild said.
“We scored a really good team goal because we worked it from one side to the other and got the ball in the box, so I was really pleased with that.”
The result means the Youth Team are now unbeaten in six games, winning four of those along the way.
“I think technically and tactically they are really buying into what me and Chris [Millington] want and we’re really starting to see that.” Wild explains.
“At this level if we win games that is great but ultimately, like I said on Thursday, we’ll be judged on the players we get through.
“They are looking after their bodies as well and really buying into being young footballers and the demands that come with that, so we’re really pleased with how they are looking after themselves off the pitch.”