Skipper Lucas leads by example as Alty inflict Latics' first defeat of the season
Oldham Athletic 1 Altrincham 2
Match report by Alty player Lucas Edwards
Coming off the back of their FA Youth Cup win, Altrincham's youngsters turned their attention to the National League and lined up against an unbeaten Oldham Athletic side.
Oldham got the game underway, and it started evenly. After six minutes or so, Tom Whyte was deemed to have tripped an Oldham attacker in the box, and though Max Beddows got down well to save the resulting penalty, the rebound was turned home, giving the home side an early advantage.
The young Robins grew into the game and were the better side after the early setback, playing some lovely football and grabbing a real foothold in the game.
The pressure paid off as captain Lucas Edwards swung in a corner which sailed directly into the back of the Oldham net.
After an even 10 minutes, the teams went into the break all-square.
The Altrincham boys came out of the blocks fast to begin the second half, with midfielders Remi Raymond, Max Whittle and Mo Suwareh dominating the centre of the park and wingers Charley Jarrald and Nathan Wood causing trouble for the opposition full-backs.
The Altrincham pressure eventually paid off, as a lovely link-up between Raymond and Edwards opened up the left-hand side. Edwards hung the ball up to the back post, and up stepped Nathan Wood with a solid finish low and hard into the bottom left-hand corner.
The defensive partnership of Kian Leckey and Blyth Bywater held strong and defended well to safeguard the Altrincham lead.
Substitutes Issac Mannion and Kyran Webster were instantly involved and together came up with some chances, which eventually were to no avail. Big tackles from Webster and Whyte allowed the young Robins to see out the game and leave with all three points, handing the Latics their first defeat of the season.
Squad - Max Beddow Kyran Webster Charley Jarrald Vlad Shtyhlian Nathan Wood Tom Whyte Oscar Cooper Kian Lecky Remi Raymond Blyth Bywater Mo Suwareh Issac Mannion Harry St. Romaine Lucas Edwards (C) Max Whittle Noah Lavin.
