Luke is a busy bee for Latics

LUKE Simpson doubled up to help Athletic under-18s beat the odds against Rochdale.

The 17-year-old goalkeeper was one of eight first-year players in the starting line-up for Tuesday afternoon's 3-2 win in the Lancashire Youth Cup quarter-finals — a second win over their local rivals in a week.

He then hot-footed it from Ashton to Boundary Park in order to take a place on the substitutes' bench for the senior team for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy clash with Crewe.

"We had eight first-year scholars in our starting line-up while Rochdale had 10 second-years," said Athletic head of youth Tony Philliskirk.

"Our lads are on a learning curve and you have to look at the bigger picture. It was great experience for them."

Jack Poxon, Luke Wandless and Chris Sutherland handed Athletic a three-goal lead before they were pegged back late on, eventually running out victors by the same score as in the FA Youth Cup-tie last week.

As well as Simpson, centre-backs Glenn Belezika and Alex Parkes excelled in the first half, along with midfield duo Poxon and Sam Fitzgerald.

The Rochdale win came after the under-18s exited the Football League Youth Alliance Cup with a 3-2 loss at Chesterfield.

Again featuring a side significantly younger than their opponents, Athletic fell behind before equalising from the penalty spot shortly before half-time through Ryan Burns.

Chesterfield regained the lead and went 3-1 up before substitute Cameron McIntosh turned and lashed home a superb 25-yard shot.

ATHLETIC'S under-18s face Rochdale for the third time in just over two weeks tomorrow (11am), in an away test in the North-West Conference of the Football League Youth Alliance.