Latics..........................0

Macclesfield Town....1
Mukendi 85

Latics' youth team lost their second successive game, this time to neighbours Macclesfield Town.

In a rather even game, both keepers were rarely tested. Latics were without both their regular 'keepers. Neil Postlethwaite was out due to his finger break from the match against Port Vale and Keenan Gracey remained ruled out due to illness.

So it was up to under 16's 'keeper Callum Williams to guard the Latics goal. When called upon, Williams responded well and commanded his area confidently but he was unable to keep out Vinny Mukendi's late strike. A defensive mix up left Mukendi with an open goal at his mercy and he fired home a late winner for the visitors.

Latics had their chances throughout the game but failed to really test Town keeper Ryan Moss.

The closest the home side came to a goal was through Jonathan Crane and Joseph Kennady.

Crane had his long range effort well saved and Joe Kennady, who was in insired form, had the same problem with his 30 yard piledriver.

Latics boss Dave Watson said "It was a scrappy game. The wind didn't help and there wasn't much quality football. It was always going to be a set piece or a mistake that would win the game and it proved to be."

Watson also had a word of confidence for young keeper Callum Williams: "Apart from the mistake for the goal, he's done really well but one mistake from a goalkeeper and you can get really punished."