Oldham Athletic’s Youth team paid a heavy price for their 4-1 win against Grimsby Town as they lost a further five players through injury in their pre-season friendly at Chapel Road.
Youth Team Manager Tony Philliskirk had only 13 players in his squad on Saturday due to injury and would have finished with eight youngsters had Alex Parkes not hobbled back on for the last 20 minutes.
Latics also lost Connor Hughes, Carl Winchester, David Mellor, who left the ground on crutches and Jack Laird, who was taken to hospital with possible broken ribs.
Latics took an early lead when Matty Carr’s great pass released Kyle Riley who scored with a great finish.
They doubled their advantage on the stroke of half time when Hughes made a terrific run down the left before cutting in and bending his shot into the far corner.
Substitute Andrew Crompton hammered a 20-yard free kick through the defensive wall for the third goal and also scored the fourth from the penalty spot after Hughes was fouled.
Grimsby scored a consolation goal with almost the last kick of the match.
