Latics reserves lose

Latics reserves crashed to a heavy defeat tonight agaisnt a young Boro side.

Latics fielded the new signings Olembe and Bouaouzan at left back and left wind respectively with Ryan Taylor making a welcome return as captain on the right wing.

Also featuring from the first team squad were Tomas Cwyka and Lewis Montrose as the centre midfield partnership.

The only player that I kinew from the Boro side was the centre half Hines who played for the Endgalnd under 17's in Italy.

Boro started off brightly, the number 9 Craddock having two shots in the first five mins, one well saved by Saunders the other narrowly going the right side of the post for Latics.

Latics then settled into a good pattern of play with Lewis Montrose being the catalyst for all the creative play.

He was ably supported by Rachid who was lively, quick skillful and two footed. On tonights Man of Match form he must start on Saturday.

Most of the action was in the Boro penalty area and the Boro keeper was beaten twice only to see the ball just go over the bar.

It was against the run of play when in the 42nd minute a deflected shot from Craddock wrong footed Saunders and Boro went into the break holding an undeserved one nil lead.

The second half was a totally different game. Boro totally dominated the proceedings and the driivng midfield partnership of Cwyka and Montrose were swamped as Boro poured forward.

Latcis made two replacements after 52 and 55 mins Taylor being replaced by Hampson and Mc Caughtrie by Thompson.

Latics notorius lack of forward deopth was exposed when we were forced to play with Mahon up front on his own with Rachid supporting in an attacking midifeld role.

Craddock was giivng our centre halves a torrid time and it was no surprise when he slipped through some poor defending after 54 mins to score.

Things got worse for Latics when a Craddock shot was only parried by Saunders and Hutchinson followe dup to score.

Latics kept going and rapsing shots from Rachid and Mahon kept the Boro keeper on his toes.

In the 83 minute the rout was completed, a shot from Craddock hit the post and Hutchinson buried the rebound.

All in all a disappointing first home game of the season in front of a crowd of around 100 which contained more Boro fans and scouts than Latics fans.

No sign of Carlo Nash which raises some concern as to whether he is being saved for Saturday.

Rachid Bouaouzan
... made some good saves but was exposed several times 5/10
... struggled to keep a lively Boro forward line under control....5/10
... showed some nice touches but not fully fit yet and it showed. Expect him to be on the bench on Saturday...5/10 ... given the run around by Hutchinson and Craddock but never gave up....5/10
... same as Pearson...5/10 .. good first half where he and Montrose controlled the game but faded in the second...6/10 ... very skilful and looks a more complete player than last year. Ran out of steam after the hour mark... 6/10 ... a class player, must start on Saturday... 7/10 ... lively like his uncle Alan, a couple of great shots which tested the keepr but suffered from a lack of quality balls. Why do we insist on playing high balls to small players.... 6/10 ... tried hard but created few cchances...5/10 ... eased his way back in, one foul on him made me wince but he was ok. Needs more games under his belt...6/10

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