Latics 2-2 Wolves U21 (2-4 On Pens)

Josh Stones marked his first start back at Boundary Park with a goal but Latics lost their second National League Cup fixture on penalties against Wolves.

A day after completing his second loan move from Wigan, Stones gave Micky Mellon’s side an early lead as he featured in the first 45 minutes.

Jes Uchegbulam, the scorer of the winning goal in the Emirates FA Cup at Tranmere on Saturday, was also on target but the hosts were twice pegged back before Wolves prevailed on penalties.

Dan Gardner and Josh Kay both saw their spot-kicks saved after the score finished level after 90 minutes, with the visitors claiming two points in the Group B fixture for a shoot-out win.

Sam Clucas was the sole survivor in the XI from Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup win at Tranmere, whilst the Latics squad featured four current youth team players, two of which were introduced at half-time.

Wolves were a confident side in possession and after seeing plenty of the early possession, they struck the woodwork in the opening stages.

Tom Edozie played a deep ball across the face of the box and Fil Mabete, arriving at the fat post, sent a first-time shot against the woodwork.

Scott Moloney made a good low stop to deny Matty Whittingham and the Latics goalkeeper also did well to stop Edozie after he had ventured into the box.

Having earlier been denied by Temple Ojinnaka, Stones registered a goal on his second debut, rolling the ball home after it had fallen invitingly in the area after Joe Garner had dispossessed Lewys Benjamin.

It was the cue for a flurry of goals, Wolves equalising within three minutes as Fletcher Holman dispatched a firm finish into the roof of the net after a driving run from Luke Cundle.

But Latics soon re-established their lead, Will Sutton heading the ball back across goal to Stones from a Clucas corner. The visitors could only clear as far as Uchegbulam, who scored with a half-volley.

Among the three changes for Latics at the break were youth team players Victor Dielunvuidi and Abz Muhammed, who found himself clean through on goal within minutes of his introduction but could only shoot at Benjamin.

Kofi Moore, himself an academy graduate, was also brought on and went close after striding in from the right but was denied at a tight angle by the feet of Benjamin.

There continued to be chances at both ends, Whittingham turning smartly before firing the ball over the Latics bar before the visitors equalised, Holman seizing on a slip from Will Sutton before steering a shot past Moloney.

Edozie also fired over whilst Moloney also made good stops from Ethan Sutherland at his near post before impressively foiling Ojinnaka.

Indeed, Latics had their goalkeeper to thank for another solid save, this time as he got down low to keep out Owen Farmer’s shot and turn.

Moloney, however, was unable to prevent any of the visitors’ penalties from finding the net after the scores finished level, leaving Wolves to claim two points for a shoot-out win.

 

Oldham Athletic: Moloney, Clucas (Dielunvuidi 46), Kay, Garner (Muhammed 46), Uchegbulam, Gardner, Sutton, Doro, Stones (Moore 46), Hammond, Khan.

Subs not used: Norman, Holden, Ndienguila, Teixeira.

Referee: Aaron Jackson

Attendance: 520