Latics' U18s record dominant victory at Christopher Park on Saturday morning
- Report | Latics 7-1 Cardiff City
- Latics produce dominant performance at Christopher Park on Saturday morning
- Chris Sze (2), Dan Smith, Adam Brooks, Charlie Hughes, Steven Sumner and Levi Welsh all on target
It was seventh heaven for Latics’ U18s as they ran out 7-1 winners over Cardiff City at Christopher Park.
Kieran Driscoll’s side were in control of the game from start to finish with the scoreline an accurate reflection of the dominant performance.
The U18s came into this game on the back of a brilliant 4-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers last weekend, and they continued where they left off in the Captial in this game.
Chris Sze set Latics on their way within three minutes when firing into the bottom corner from 20 yards out to give the home side the perfect start.
The early goal gave Latics confidence, and they had a number of chances to extend the lead inside the opening twenty minutes.
Sze had an effort parried away after dancing his way into the penalty area with some quick feet before Ruben Grewal got on the end of a Jack Reilly pull-back after superb interplay down Latics’ right, but Jake Dennis in the Cardiff goal got down well to divert it wide.
Arthur Lomax then was denied by the woodwork after a low effort beat Dennis to his left hand side, but came back off the post and away from Levi Welsh with the striker looking to tap home.
Latics failed to make their dominance reflect on the scoreline in the early stages, and were punished by the visitors from the penalty spot as James Crole converted the spot-kick after Cole Fleming was fouled in the area.
The Bluebirds were not level for long, however, as Chris Sze doubled his tally for the day three minutes later to find the bottom corner in a crowded area.
Two quickly became three for Latics in unorthodox fashion. Dan Smith’s corner from the right hand side beat everybody, including Dennis in goal, to find the far corner and hand the left-back a goal.
After the break, Latics continued to dominate the game, and added to their tally when Adam Brooks got on the scoresheet. Superb play between Smith and Welsh released the winger into open space, and he fired home emphatically.
It was 5-1 just three minutes later as Charlie Hughes, on the back of signing his first professional deal, was teed up from a free-kick to find the bottom corner superbly from outside the area.
Kieran Driscoll’s side continued to press for more openings, and found it on 76 minutes as Steven Sumner cushioned the ball home with a looping cross causing all sorts of problems for the Cardiff defence.
The final goal of the afternoon was scored by Welsh as a reward for his hard working performance throughout the afternoon. He nicked a defender of possession deep inside Cardiff’s half, and fired emphatically past the keeper to round off an outstanding afternoon’s work for the U18s.
Latics: Watson, Reilly (Trialist 78), Hughes, Sumner, Smith, Payne, Sze (Latona 65), Lomax, Brooks, Grewal (Worsley 65), Welsh
Subs: Corran, Jones
Cardiff: Dennis, Jones, Lewis, Crew, Rippon, Colwill, Fleming, Hughes, Crole, Mpadi, Wigley
Subs: Spiers, Benjamin, Ware, Schwank, Beecher