On a balmy evening at Ewen Fields, Andy Welsh’s Blues looked strong, controlling and creating throughout with a quiet debut for goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, signed from Poli Timisoara on a 12-month loan.
It was entertainment from the word go. After a couple of minutes, trialist Francisco Silva Jnr threaded the ball through to Jose D’Angelo, who fired his shot just over the bar.
It wasn’t long before City took the lead. Ten minutes in and Abdul Razak slotted the ball to Joan Roman, whose impressive shot from the edge of the box ripped past Oldham’s Dale Connor.
Roman almost made it two just minutes later after a fine ball from Jeremy Helan. The young Blues looked comfortable, turning their enthusiasm and passion into possession and chances.
The ball was in the net again on 26 minutes but Frederic Veseli’s cross from the right was deemed to have already gone out by the linesman before Luca Scapuzzi has tapped it in.
The warm conditions seemed to agree with the players and City extended their lead on 43 minutes when trialist D’Angelo headed the ball home after a scramble in the box.
Former Barcelona prospect Gai Assulin was introduced after the break and was influential in driving the Blues forward and pushing to increase their two-goal lead.
It seemed inevitable, and on 58 minutes City made it 3-0, Ivan Dzoni firing in from close range
Pantilimon didn’t quite go untested in his debut for City. With 70 minutes go he was forced to make a strong save from Ryan Brooke’s free kick, the only shot from Oldham throughout the game.
With stand-out performances from Courtney Mappen-Walter and Abdul Razak, the Blues looked confident and fluent, an exciting midfield entertaining the 250-strong crowd at Hyde.
City’s EDS are next in action at Ewen Fields on 30 August against Burnley in their final pre-season friendly. Kick-off is 7pm and ticket details will appear on the site.
That will be the final game before the young Blues began their NextGen League matches.
