- U18s Report | Latics 3 Bolton 1
- Latics win after back-to-back defeats
- Harry Jolley, Alfie Devine and Kyle Joseph complete second half comeback
Wigan Athletic 3
Jolley 55
Devine 59
Joseph 82
Bolton Wanderers 1
King-Harmes 45 (pen)
The Under 18s got back to winning ways after goals from Harry Jolley, Alfie Devine and Kyle Joseph helped Latics come from behind against Bolton Wanderers.
Back in action following their heroic efforts in the FA Youth Cup quarter final against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Latics fell behind from the penalty spot on the stroke of half time.
A good second half response saw early goals from Jolley and Devine put Latics in the ascendancy, before Joseph added his 23rd goal of the season in all competitions.
Bolton made a bright start and looked the more likely to threaten.
Finlay Lockett was at the heart of their good attacking play, and his persistence down the left - despite the best efforts of Harry Jolley to force him out - helped him keep the ball alive before playing to Callum King Harmes who forced a save out of Sam Tickle.
Lockett was causing problems down either side, and his driven ball to the front post was agonisingly turned the wrong side of the post by Regan Riley.
Latics first good chance came as Tom Costello ran at the Wanderers defender before jinxing onto his left foot and stroking the ball across the goal but wide.
Sean McGurk soon showed similar skill to get it onto his left foot just outside the box, but his effort was central and easy for Hutchinson to gather.
In all it was a half of few shots on goal. and the visitors were given the opportunity to take the lead on a plate.
Louis Isherwood’s header back to Tickle fell short as King-Harmes was switched on to get first to the ball and force the foul – the referee pointed straight to the penalty spot.
Sterling sent Tickle the wrong way and gave the visitors the ascendancy going into the break.
Latics had struggled to create anything clear cut, however, as Harry Jolley picked the ball up on inside left he took aim to stroke low into bottom left hand corner and catch Bolton goalkeeper Lyle Hutchinson of guard 10 minutes after the break
The goal was a fourth league goal of the season for captain Jolley and a second equaliser from himself in two league games.
Joseph was looking for his 23rd of a prolific season, but he turned provider as he kept the ball alive down the left and managed to run into the box - where support came from Alfie Devine who calmly took a touch and stroked the ball to the goalkeepers left.
Luck wasn't falling Joseph's way to get in on the scoring, and as Hutchinson spilled Sean McGurk’s cross Joseph looked to gobble up the gift - his shot was somehow kept out on the line though.
It was down the left side that the home side were finding joy and like the goal they were patient.
Tom Costello kept the ball and found Kyle Joseph, who took time to get the ball into his left foot with space - only for a heroic block from Centre Back Adam Senior.
Joseph finally got his goal in the latter stages - though with a stroke of fortune - as his long-range effort went straight through the gloves of Hutchinson.
The 3-1 win gets Latics back to winning ways in the league after defeat against Barnsley last time out, and a narrow defeat at Old Trafford last Friday in a 2-1 FA Youth Cup Quarter-final defeat.
Latics: Tickle, Broe, Jolley, Carragher, Isherwood, Adeeko, McGurk, Devine (Weir 86), Joseph, Costello, Brown (Snell 86)
Unused subs: Mooney, Hughes, Sze.
Bolton: Hutchinson, Whaley, Ahamdi, Graham, Senior, Dsigwe, Lockett, White, King Harmes, Riley, Sterling (Assarsson 81)
Unused Subs: Edmondson, Litherland, Richards, Calvin.