LATICS boss Ronnie Moore believed he got the right response from his team as they hit Chesterfield for four on Saturday.

After the 4-0 humiliation against Tranmere eight days before, two goals in each half saw the Latics home against the mumps-affected Spireites.

Missing five first-teamers, along with manager Roy McFarland, two goals in the opening four minutes was not the ideal way for Chesterfield to start.

Moore said: “The response from being beaten last week showed as we got out of the blocks nice and early.

“What we have got to learn is not to concede if we are going to sit back – that’s what good sides do.

“I thought the front three complemented each other again and although they had one or two chances, once we got the third, it was a matter of whether we could get four or five.”

With supporters looking for Latics to make amends for the Tranmere horror show, they were rewarded with two goals in the opening four minutes.

Having been at fault for two of the goals at Prenton Park, Guy Branston made amends within 47 seconds as he headed in from Andy Liddell’s corner.

While the crowd were still coming down off that high, Liddell notched the second as he collected Branston’s flick and fired a terrific volley into the far corner.

Holding Chesterfield by the throat, Latics failed to capitalise on their advantage and let the visitors back into the game.

The nerve ends were set jangling six minutes after half-time when awful defending allowed Derek Niven to fire past Chris Day.

Former Latic Mark Allott shot wildly over when Day’s poor punch presented him with a chance, but that was as near to an equaliser as Chesterfield managed.

The two-goal lead was restored on 56 minutes when Branston flicked on Rob Scott’s long throw for the ever-industrious Paul Warne to head home.

He could have had a second 20 minutes later as a flowing move involving Richie Wellens and Liddell ended with Warne sidefooting just wide of the post from 18 yards.

The coup de grace duly arrived with three minutes left as on-loan debutant Phil Picken capped a miserable day for Chesterfield by diverting home Delroy Facey’s cross with Warne waiting to pounce.

Tweet