LATICS progressed to the knock-out stage of the Checkatrade Trophy with an emphatic victory against a young Newcastle side with, on this showing at least, many lessons still to learn.

There are no easy games in football, so they say. On that basis, and taking nothing away from Richie Wellens’ men who were impressive all night, let’s just say this was probably as close as you’re ever going to get to one.

As expected, Wellens rang the changes for this final group game in the much-maligned competition, knowing a draw would be enough to see Latics through.

In front of a sparse Boundary Park crowd, the hosts were almost ahead after only four minutes when skipper for the night Anthony Gerrard thumped a header against the crossbar from an in-swinging Jack Byrne free kick on the left.

It would be a sign of things to come when, nine minutes later, a cross from the right was beautifully chested down by Eoin Doyle and Byrne was on hand to despatch low into the corner.

Byrne looked lively and fresh – always eager to get on the ball, probing and prompting those around him – after sitting out Saturday’s FA Cup first round defeat at Carlisle.

The Dubliner’s awareness, sponge of a first-touch and ability to make a slide-rule pass through the eye of a needle are just some of the reasons why he makes the game look so effortless at times.

The way Byrne plays is infectious and it began to spread throughout the Athletic XI.

Athletic almost doubled their advantage on 22 minutes when a Gevaro Nepomuceno cross from the left found Wilson who played it back across the box for Doyle. The frontman’s side-foot finish however, was scooped off the line by a relieved Nathan Harker in the visitors’ goal. It really did look easier to score.

As much as the young Magpies side – tutored by Toon legend Peter Beardsley – tried to play football, they struggled to keep hold of it. That was thanks in part to the Latics pressing game – and partly due to careless wastefulness entirely of their own doing, wanting to play the Hollywood glamour pass at any given opportunity.

Latics were simply more effective in possession than the Premier League wannabes they were facing.

On 51 minutes Aaron Amadi-Holloway, enjoying a rare start up front, fired a shot wide following neat approach play from Abdelhakim Omrani and Doyle.

Athletic made it 2-0 on 61 minutes when a stinging drive from Kean Bryan from range was parried by the ’keeper straight into the path of Doyle who, using all his poaching instincts, found himself in the right place at the right time to tap home.

Two minutes later it was three – and easy – for the home side when Byrne danced round some static defending on the edge of the six-yard box and placed the ball into the corner for his second of the game to top a man-of-the-match display.

It was 4-0 on 69 minutes when Doyle, put through by substitute Tope Obadeyi, was as cool as you like to lift the ball over the advancing ’keeper.

The visitors pulled one back on 78 minutes when Rolando Aarons headed past Johny Placide at the near post, but by then the game was long since over as a contest. LATICS (4-4-2): Placide, Brian Wilson, Gerrard (cpt), Bryan, Nepomuceno; Gardner (Obadeyi 65), Flynn (Maouche 72), Omrani, Byrne; Amadi-Holloway, Doyle (Duffus 72). Subs (not used): Ben Wilson, Davies, Menig, Hamer.

Booked: Gerrard 38, Byrne 45.

NEWCASTLE U-21s: Harker, Sterry, Cameron, Barlaser, Good, Gillesphey (cpt), Roberts, Ward, McNall, Fernandez, Aarons. Subs: Woolston, Kitchen, Aziakonou, Bailey, Smith, Bartlett, Heaney.

Attendance: 1,107 (50 away).

Referee: C Boyeson.