OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2, MANSFIELD TOWN 0
OLDHAM ATHLETIC finally broke the spirited resistance of League Two side Mansfield Town to win through to the second round of the Emirates FA Cup.
It took 70 minutes at SportsDirect.com Park for Latics to make their breakthrough when goals in quick succession from Danny Philliskirk and Dominic Poleon earned a tie at Sheffield United.
Not only did Latics had to overcome a dogged Mansfield side, but also adverse weather conditions as only 1,893 hardy souls braved the weather and leave the warmth of their armchairs with England against France live on mainstream television.
Manager David Dunn’s one change from the side that won at Chesterfield was influenced by the fact that the Stags are a big, strong physical side as Carl Winchester dropped to the bench.
Timothee Dieng was pushed into midfield while Richard Eckersley was handed his first start for the club at right back as Cameron Dummigan was again on international duty.
There was one-minute’s silence before kick off as Latics remembered the victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris.
Mansfield had the better of the early stages territorially as they capitalised on Latics giving the ball away cheaply on numerous occasions.
And they might have taken the lead midway through the opening period after a breakdown in communication involving Brian Wilson and Joel Coleman, but Matt Green fired wide after keeper Coleman managed to recover his ground to put off the striker.
Half chances fell to Danny Philliskirk and Michael Higdon, but neither troubled keeper Scott Shearer. Latics were nearly caught out just before half time. Their defence stood motionless as a harmless looking header from Jack Thomas fell to an unmarked Matty Blair six yards out, but luckily he failed to connect with an overhead kick.
The second half was only three minutes old when a neat passing move from Mansfield saw Green through on goal for the best chance of the game so far, but James Wilson produced a sliding block to deny the Mansfield striker from eight yards.
Minutes later Green again came close to breaking through the Latics defence but once more it was James Wilson to the rescue nicking the ball off the striker’s toes as he prepared to shoot from the edge of the box.
On-loan Giorgio Rasulo made his first home appearance on the hour mark, with the 18-year-old replacing Higdon up front in a repeat of the change which had such an immediate impact at Chesterfield.
He was involved in the action immediately drawing a rash challenge from Ryan Tafazolli and he followed Timothee Dieng into the book. From the resulting free kick the wind made life difficult for the Mansfield keeper as Mark Yeates’ kick almost caught him out hitting the top of the crossbar.
A run from Poleon on the right wing then saw an interchange with Rasulo which almost got Philliskirk in. Mansfield responded and James Wilson was forced into another last ditch challenge this time on Nathan Thomas as Coleman hesitated.
The deadlock was finally broken after seventy minutes. Yeates again caused problems and won a corner on the left. It was cleared initially, but the ball fell to Mills who curled a delightful ball into the box. Philliskirk controlled it and fired past the keeper from six yards out for his sixth goal of the season.
Eight minutes later and it was 2-0 with a spectacular finish from Poleon. A long ball from James Wilson to the left hand side was well kept in on the by line by Yeates. He jinked inside before pulling the ball back to Philliskirk on the edge of the D, he fed Poleon first time and from the left hand corner of the box Poleon curled a wonderful finish past the helpless keeper into the top right hand corner of the goal. A deserved reward after a hard working performance from the striker who had looked Latics most dangerous attacker all night.
After 85 minutes man-of-the-match Poleon received a richly deserved ovation from the crowd as he was replaced by Ricardo Fuller.
Latics played some neat possession football before Liam Kelly eventually tried his look from 30 yards with his shot narrowly going over the crossbar with the keeper well beaten as they almost added a third goal.