Town’s U18s suffered semi-final heartbreak for the second time in four days after they were beaten 2-1 after extra-time by Wigan Athletic in their Professional Development League Two play-off at the Latics' Christopher Park training ground.

Wigan, who finished top of PDL2 North, went ahead via Tom Costello in only the second minute.

But the side coached by Adem Atay and Jason Dozzell, who finished second in PDL2 South, hit back four minutes after the break through Gerard Buabo with first-team manager Paul Cook among those watching.

The scoreline remained level at full-time but the Lancastrians won it in extra-time when Harry McHugh netted a 107th-minute penalty. Wigan will now play either Charlton or Birmingham City in the final.

Many of the players involved for the young Blues this afternoon and also Wednesday’s 2-1 FA Youth Cup semi-final defeat to Liverpool at Portman Road will be in the U23s squad facing Sheffield United away in their play-off semi-final on Monday.

U18s: Ridd, Cutbush, Stewart, Baggott, Armin, Alexander (c), Humphreys, Gibbs, Ward, Buabo, Bello. Subs: Bradshaw, Nwabueze, Chirewa, Agbaje, Jackson.

Photo: Matchday Images

Millsey added 13:47 - May 15 Unlucky lads👍👍👍
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BlueandTruesince82 added 13:59 - May 15 Shame but sounds like they have had a great season so well done to them all
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rfretwell added 14:41 - May 15 Only 2.5 days recovery time did for us. Such a shame but our 18's have made us all so proud this season.
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cressi added 15:02 - May 15 Exactly not enough time to recover from a hard game v Liverpool imagine pep and Jurgen I their sides had 2.5 days break and I guess we never had 30 players to pick from well done lads
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warfarinman69 added 15:09 - May 15 Hopefully they will learn from this and come back stronger. Definitely not enough recovery time at that age
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abandon_hope1978 added 20:54 - May 15 More disappointment 😤😤 Can someone explain why a year ago, Chirewa was involved with the first team whilst an under 16 schoolboy and hyped up as the next wonder kid, yet a year later he's on the bench for FA Cup semi final and league play off final in the under 18's. Why is he going backwards???
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blueboy1981 added 21:57 - May 16 Not surprised to be honest the way they defended against Liverpool, after taking the lead. Euphoria can be short lived, and too much praise can take the shine off individual performance, as well as collectively.
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