LATICS U18s FELL TO DEFEAT IN THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE CUP.
- U18s Match Report | Latics 2 Preston North End 3
- Latics took the lead before falling behind at Christopher Park
- Reece Greenhalgh & John Paul-Cavanagh on the scoresheet for Latics
Wigan Athletic U18s fell to a narrow defeat in their opening group stage fixture against Preston North End U18s in the Professional Development League Cup at Christopher Park.
Recce Greenhalgh drew Latics level after Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile gave the visitors the lead inside ten minutes before Marc Maddocks' side were left to come from behind once again, this time, through John-Paul Cavanagh, who clipped in off the post after Max Wilson scored twice for North End either side of the half-time break.
Maddocks rung the changes from the U18s 4-0 win over Watford’s 18s on Saturday, with a youthful Tics side stepping out at Christopher Park. Jake Spaven, Alex Hughes and James Knott were all replaced by Rohan Taylor, Zac Edwards and Alastair Clifford in the back five, with Lucas Tobin, Liam Flight, Oscar Harris and Lewis Wilson also coming into the starting line-up as Latics looked to kick start the group stage off with a win.
A cagey start to affairs at Christopher Park saw neither side take control in windy conditions, though it was the visitors who took the initiative. Just inside ten minutes, forward Rodriguez-Gentile took the ball on the edge before firing an effort into the corner to open the scoring.
The Tics were probing for an equaliser, though Rodriguez-Gentile threatened once more when he knocked it around Rohan Taylor, only managing to hit the side netting from a tight angle.
Latics had their first effort of the game when Greenhalgh’s deflected strike fell to Lucas Tobin, whose shot drifted over before Taylor was soon called into action, once again facing Rodriguez-Gentile one-v-one, this time winning the battle with a fantastic stop.
The hosts continued to battle away. Led by Greenhalgh’s tenacity, the midfielder found himself inside the box before firing an emphatic finish into the roof of the net to draw level, netting late in the first half.
It seemed as though the two sides were heading into the break all square - however, Mason Goulding’s late challenge saw Max Wilson go down in the box on the cusp of half-time and the referee eventually pointing to the spot. Wilson stepped up and rolled home to restore Preston’s lead.
It was a similar start to the second period, which saw Ayden Garrigan's cross towards the back post find Troy Tarry free, with the full back getting his effort all wrong and eventually blazing over.
The young Tics continued to push, though Wilson showed his ruthlessness in front of goal with just over 20 minutes to go, curling into the bottom corner to grab his second and Preston’s third.
Nothing could fault Latics’ fight, and they almost immediately fired back through Cavanagh, whose powerful strike from the edge of the area clattered in off the post, but it was too little too late, with Latics falling to a narrow defeat in their opening group game.
They will next look to bounce back at Florence Park when they make the trip to face Colchester United in the Professional Development League.