Southport 2-0 Latics

A changed Latics side were beaten in the latest outing of pre-season at Southport.

As at Warrington Rylands, Micky Mellon again used the midweek fixture to experiment with his line-up and they fell to a goal in either half.

Tunde Owolabi put the National League North side in front shortly before the interval and Sam Minihan made sure of their win midway through the second period.

Latics’ starting Xi featured four trialists and a number of other players who have not started the two home friendlies against EFL opposition.

Reagan Ogle, returning to the club where he spent two loan spells, made his second start after impressing on Saturday, while Oli Hammond returned from injury.

Latics had a number of chances to have taken an early lead, the most notable of which saw Alex Reid denied from the penalty spot. He had a low effort saved by Chris Renshaw after being caught in the area by the Southport goalkeeper.

Renshaw was heavily involved in the opening stages, twice denying Jes Uchegbulam in quick succession. After cutting in from the left, Uchegbulam brought a diving stop from the keeper before a parrying save after the ball was played back into the area.

Yet despite the good start, Southport began to control more of the play as the half went on and striker Owolabi, in particular, grew in prominence.

Midway through the first half, he was denied by the trialist Latics keeper after miscommunication in the visiting defence. The striker then shot over following a cross from Minihan before Jack Doyle cleared the crossbar from range.

It was Owolabi who gave the home side the lead four minutes before half-time, dispatching a low finish after breaking clear of the Oldham back-line.

Rather than the usual mass of changes, substitutes were gradually introduced at the start of the second period for Latics, but it was the home side who continued to make most of the running.

Luke Burgess and Minihan both had chances, whilst the first contribution for substitute goalkeeper Magnus Norman was to make a good low save from Marcus Carver.

The National League North side added a second on 69 minutes, Minihan scoring with a low effort after an initial shot from Burgess was blocked.

Despite some changes in attack, Latics were unable to make any further impression and the home side were able to comfortably see out their win.

 

Oldham Athletic: Trialist, Ogle (Doro 46), Hogan, Kay (Trialist D 56), Uchegbulam (Charsley 77), Sutton, Reid, Hammond, Trialist A, Trialist B (Moore 77), Trialist C (Hobson 77).

Subs not used: Norman, Fondop.

Southport: Renshaw (McMillan 73), Doyle, Spooner, Carver, Owolabi (Russ 76), Quansah, Moore, Keane (Hilton 73), Burgess (Stafford 73), Minihan (Heath 76), Philliskirk.

Subs not used: Turner, Hawkins.

Referee: Matt McQuillam

Attendance: 928 (157 away)