After a close loss against AFC Flyde at Boundary Park, Latics were eliminated from the FA Youth Cup.
Early on, the game was end-to-end, with Latics and the visiting team each enjoying a decent number of chances. Goalkeeper Josh Whitelow of Lactics came up big as attacker Danny Omerod was through on goal as the game went on. The visitors did receive a penalty in the 23rd minute following some pressure from Flyde following a foul by the Latics defender on Charlie Markland. Omerod successfully converted the penalty to give the visitors the lead.
After falling behind, Latics came back strongly by keeping the ball well and moving up the field, which led to numerous possibilities for goals.
Somtobenna Chukwugbo perfectly headed a ball that Atherton drifted into the Latics’ box back across the Flyde goalkeeper. Finding the equalizer after falling behind at Boundary Park was a fantastic comeback.
Ten minutes or so later, Kian Hope spotted an opening to give the away team the lead once more.
Throughout the course of the game, Latics displayed some excellent play, with Collins Kagame’s attempt from the edge of the box narrowly missing the post. After a tremendously strong shot, the outstanding Alfie Atherton struck the crossbar.
In their battle to score the equalizer, Latics consistently had the better scoring opportunities, and in the 82nd minute, they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Atherton. Punishment was avoided.
With another opportunity going off the crossbar through Kagame in the waning seconds of play, it appeared as though the goal to tie the game would soon be scored.
Flyde won the match 1-2 at Boundary Park, moving on to the next round of the FA Youth Cup.
Whitelow, Withers, Rhodes, Williams, Wdiengila, Lawrenson, Atherton, Spencer, Kagame, Holden (Mbakwa 89), and Chukwugbo (Simmons 61) are the Latics’ players.
Leonard, Ephrem, Beckham, and Dengoue were not substitutes.
Participation: 288
Daniel O’Brien is the referee.
Charlie Everett, report
Padraig Duggan photos
