Keith Bertschin's Latics sunk by Shrimps in Lancashire Cup
MORECAMBE 2
Twiss 2
LATICS 1
Hampson
A young Latics were undone by two goals from 31 year old former Manchester United apprentice Michael Twiss as they went down disappointingly to Morecambe in the Lancashire FA Canterbury Senior Cup at Christie Park.
PICTURED RIGHT - MATTY HAMPSON, his strike was only a consolation
Latics boss Keith Bertschin said he was expecting better from his charges after the performances so far this season. "The problem with setting a high standard is that you have to then go on and maintain it, and for whatever reason, I don't think they did that tonight," he said.
"Credit to Morecambe, but I thought not enough players showed up tonight, and that was the disappointing aspect for me. This is a big year for a lot of these boys and it will be interesting to see if they show character and bounce back from what was a below par performance."
Bertschin said the only real positive was that even after Twiss had given the Shrimps a two goal lead, Latics did carry on fighting, and hit back with a deflected long range effort from Matty Hampson with nine minutes left.
"Unfortunately, it was too little too late," he said, "but at least they showed some desire towards the end."
Youth Team keeper Neil Postlethwaite did have the satisfaction of denying Twiss a hat-trick with an excellent injury-time penalty save.
Latics' best other chance of the game fell to Tomasz Cywka, who forced a finger tip save from Morecambe keeper Lewis Edge.
LATICS
Postlethwaite; Montrose, Pearson, Ashworth, Mustoe; Kupisz (Breeze, 75), Hampson, Routledge, Redmond, Holt; Cywka
Subs not used: Field, Gracey, Buxton, Kirkbride