RESERVES: LATICS 1 - 3 BLACKBURN. Bertschin's boys can't finish on high

LATICS 1
Hampson 16
BLACKBURN ROVERS 3
Treacy 8, 60
Blackman 19 (pen)

Keith Bertschin's Latics were not able to finish their season on a high, as they went down fighting to a much stronger and experienced Blackburn Rovers.

But Bertschin said he didn't want the result to distract from what in the main has been a good season for his side of youngsters and there were moments tonight where they could have made more of opportunities.

Pictured right: Matty Hampson - confident finish

"The higher up the football ladder you climb," he said, "the more it becomes crucial to take chances when they come along. I was pleased about the fact that we did create a lot against a very strong team, but disappointed with our level of concentration at other times. But they're all still learning and generally we have made big steps forward this season."

Although the visitors, featuring Tugay and Zurab Khizanishvili in the side, did look a class apart at times, Bertschin wasn't happy with the manner the first two goals were given away.

The first, scored by the impressive Keith Treacy, came when rookie keeper Lee Nicholls was unlucky to deflect a shot into the net, but Bertschin was more frustrated that the winger had been allowed to turn and strike so easily.

Latics briefly regained parity with a really well worked goal, Daniel Redmond skipping through midfield to set up a chance for Matty Hampson to surge into the box and fire into the top corner with a superb finish.

But Latics pushed the self-destruct button straight afterwards, Joe Holt needlessly pulling down Treacy in the box. Nick Blackman calmly despatched the penalty.

Latics then forged the best chances, firstly when Jon Routledge powered through but couldn't find Holt with the final ball, then when Holt failed to keep down a header in the box.

Routledge also saw two great efforts well saved by keeper Jake Kean before Treacy - probably the outstanding player on the pitch - netted brilliantly with a curling effort from outside the box.

LATICS
Nicholls, Crane, Pearson, Meace (Field 63), Redmond, Kupisz, Routledge (Amos, 86), Breeze (Lambert 86), Hampson, Holt, McManaman
Subs not used: Williams, Jukes