Ten games left, ten cup finals, ten games in order to right the horrific wrongs of the summer of 2020. Can Latics do it? On the evidence of the last week – most definitely.
As disappointing as the penalty shoot out defeat to Sutton was, Leam and the lads followed up in the best way possible. The performance in Milton Keynes was very good, and arguably should have led to all three points but with the kind of form Franchise FC were in a point away from home was a very good result indeed.
Especially when you look at the players missing due to injury and suspension. Yes Ben Amos should have done better with their equaliser but ahead of the match everyone would have taken a point, knowing the two games we had in the next week.
The visit to Gresty Road followed the same path as the home game against Crewe, Latics were by far the better side but a steadfast Crewe regard coupled with yet another referee falling for every time wasting trick in the book meant it looked like Latics would be heading in to the break with a worrying 0-0 against their name. Thankfully Josh Maggenis decided it would be the ideal time to bag his opening goal for the club.
He’s had a torrid time since he arrived at the club, and under his own admission could have done better since he signed but as with Charlie Wyke and Stephen Humphrys before him he’s retained the support of his manager and you wouldn’t bet against Josh getting further goals over the next ten games.
So on to Morecambe on Saturday afternoon, a Morecambe side who pushed us all the way back in January but now seem a shadow of that side. With a new management team in charge and without a win in eleven games we’ll go in to Saturday as overwhelming favourites but we know football doesn’t work like that.
We need calm and level heads at this stage of the season and thankfully Leam Richardson has that in spades.
It’s a year this week since the takeover of the club by the Phoenix 2021 was ratified and completed, who would have believed the progress we’ve made since then?
I bet even Talal and Mal Brannigan are surprised. All credit goes to those staff both in the boardroom and in the dugout along with those hard working staff who helped to bring our club back from the brink. The pain of administration will never go away but something special is building at our football club, something you can’t help but feel pride in and we’re ten games away from sealing the first part of that.
Saturday sees the return of the walk 4 Joseph charity walk in aid of children with the life limiting medical condition Non-Ketotic Hyperglycinemia. This year instead of walking to an away ground the walkers led manfully by Martin Tarbuck are walking FROM the away ground to the DW Stadium. Best of luck to everyone on the walk.
If you wish to donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/team/walk4josephmorecambe where over £15,000 has already been raised.
Sean Livesey
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