Youth Sees Latics Reserves Through

In a team sprinkled with full internationals in Kapo, Edman and M’Bami it was the youth who saw the Latics progress into the second round of the Lancashire Senior Challenge Cup, with goals in either half from Cwyka and Holt.

Latics playing the now familiar 4-5-1 formation controlled the game from the start with wingers Kapo and Bouaouzan stretching the Rovers defence and Cwyka.feeding off these two looked dangerous every time he touched the ball, forcing the Rovers keeper and the defence into several last ditch stops.

The goal when it came was a piece of classic finishing. Cwyka was put through the middle and bearing down on the keeper with a defender pressing him, he finished with aplomb.

Play in the first half was halted when Edman fell awkwardly under a challenge but although he was substituted immeadately, he was able to walk off unaided.

The second half saw Redmond replace Bouaouzan and playing in an attacking role with Cwyka moving onto the wing. A nasty injury then saw the introduction of Holt, who almost immeadately made his presence felt, when he burst through the middle and finished well to put the game out of Rover’s reach.

Latics rarely looked troubled and the back four marshalled by the experienced Amaya gave Rovers little chance.

M’Bami, with his prospective new manager watching from the stand put in a competent performance but whether it will be enough to secure him a contract reamins to be seen.

Player Ratings

Lee Nicholls …6/10
Had little to do but was always alert mainly to deal with back passes.

Adam Buxton…7/10
A good game in his natural position of right back, having played out of position at centre half last week.

Erik Edman…6/10
Was substituted in the first half following a nasty fall.

Antonio Amaya….7/10
A competant performance marred by one horrible gaffe.

Josh Langley…6/10
Looked comfortable on the ball.

Jon Routledge…6/10
Worked hard to make space for the pass, tackled well.

Olivier Kapo…7/10
A class better than the oppostion. Must be pushing for a place on the bench for Saturday.

James Mc Carthy…6/10
Not as dynamic a performance as last weeks but worked hard.

Tomas Cwyka…8/10
Excellent in attack.

Modeste M’Bami…6/10
Worked hard, a very defensive midfielder.

Rachid Bouaozan…7/10
Looked really sharp in the 45 mins he was on the pitch.

Joe Holt…7/10
The best of the youngsters to have come through the ranks. Maybe the first player to establish himself in the first team squad since Leighton Baines.