The Mariners Youth Team were victorious over Wigan Athletic in the second game of the U18 Professional Development League Cup Group Stage, thanks to goals from a 90th minute winner from Harvey Booth.
Following on from a 2-2 draw at Stockport County in the opening match of the PDL League Cup, the Mariners were eager to get their first three points on the board, facing up against the Latics.
Town started well and could have been ahead through both Booth and Ted Sharp, but as the game evened out both back lines stood firm and the game remained level.
Town however took the lead when Noah Hutton won the ball back in midfield and found Sharp. The forward played the ball to lively winger, Curtis Manyika who slid in Hutton who lifted the ball over the keeper on 30 minutes to make it 1-0.
Town went close again through Sharp before the break, but the striker was unable to fire the ball beyond James Chau in the Latics’ net.
The second half began in a similar vein to the first, with Town coming close through Manyika, Booth and Sharp but unable to find a second goal.
Despite the Mariners dominance, Wigan equalised against the run of play with a squared ball tapped home to level up the tie on the hour mark.
Town continued to create but it didn’t look to be there day, until in the 90th minute when Booth raced clear and smashed home past the Lactics keeper to win the game in dramatic fashion.
Town are next back in action in the PDL League Cup in October and will need to beat the undefeated Bolton Wanderers in the final group game to progress in the competition.
UTM
