RESERVES: Cywka rescues point for Latics as Edman plays full match
BLACKBURN ROVERS . . . 1
Santa Cruz 56
LATICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Cywka 85
A terrific finish five minutes from time from young Pole Tomasz Cywka rescued a point for Keith Bertshin's Latics against Blackburn Rovers at Morecambe's Christie Park tonight, as Eric Edman completed his first full match on the road to recovery.
Cywka showed a real poacher's instinct as he swiveled in the box to fire the ball low past Rovers keeper Mark Bunn and level the game, which was all Latics deserved after another good display.
Edman looked assured as he completed 90 minutes and will be hoping his injury nightmares are now behind him. Although it could be early days yet and he may need more games before he is fully back in contention, tonight was a huge step forwards for the Swede.
Latics went behind to a strike early in the second half from Julio Santa Cruz and although Rovers also hit the post, Latics enjoyed plenty of possession themselves and carved out some good chances.
The best of those were probably a great Matty Hampson run down the right flank early in the second half and Joe Holt's effort early on that drew out a good save from Bunn.
Keith Bertschin said he was really pleased with another good effort from his side.
"The confidence in the team is there for all to see," he said, "there's a camaraderie amongst them, and they showed great character to come back from a goal down and kept fighting until the end."
On the goal, Bertschin said: "I'm pleased for Tomasz. Football's about taking chances and he took his really well. In all fairness, he probably had no right to score, but his trickery and quick feet created the opening. It was an excellent finish."
BLACKBURN ROVERS: Bunn, Marrow (Hanley 24), Gunning, Flynn, O'Keefe, Hodge, Simpson, Judge, J. Santa Cruz, Marshall (Lowe 80), Doran.
Subs not used: Bussmann (GK), Potts, O'Connor
LATICS: Pollitt, Field (Redmond 67), Edman, Pearson, Ashworth, Hampson, Routledge, Montrose, Cywka, Holt, Kuplsz.
Subs not used: Buxton, Postlethwaite, Breeze, McManaman.
