EVERTON 2-0 LATICS - Young Latics go down fighting

A very young Latics team were beaten by Everton at a rain-drenched Halton Stadium, but Keith Bertschin said he hoped the players 'could learn from the experience'.

Everton, featuring former Latics keeper Carlo Nash in the nets, probably had the game won by half-time after goals by Karl Sheppard, and a heavily deflected strike from Kieran Agard.

Latics, featuring promising 16 year-old goalkeeper Lee Nicholls and four first year apprentices, fought hard and did have Everton on the back foot at times.

Had the lively Callum McManaman's two smart efforts not be well saved by Nash in the second half, it might have been a different story and Latics could have salvaged something. But it was not to be.

Bertschin had no complaints afterwards.

"They were a young side and they gave it everything, so I can't really ask for any more than that.

"It's always disappointing to lose and maybe if Callum's efforts had got past Nashy, it might have been a different story.

"But I want them to learn from this. It's a big step up for a lot of these boys and hopefully the experience will stand them in good stead for the future."

LATICS
Nicholls; Craine, Buxton, Meace, Redmond, Mahon, Breeze, Routledge (Capt), Holt, Kupisz, McManaman.
Subs: Williams, Chiocchi, Lambert, Boothman, Dukes, Amos