BLACKBURN ROVERS U21 2, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2
(Oldham won 5-4 on penalties)
Oldham Athletic won a penalty shootout at Ewood Park to beat Blackburn Rovers U21s and move into the last 32 of the Checkatrade Trophy.
Latics twice came from behind through goals from Freddie Ladapo and Brian Wilson to force penalties in their final group game played in front of a crowd of only 471.
Substitute Lee Croft fired the decisive spot kick as Latics picked up two points, one for the draw and the second for winning the penalty competition.
After the first eight spot kicks were converted, Liam Feeney missed to give Croft the chance of glory.
Manager Stephen Robinson made five changes to his side which beat Doncaster Rovers at the weekend with Calaum Jahraldo-Martin handed his first start for the club.
Latics made a bright start in which Josh Law, another of the chances, fired over while Ryan Flynn had a shot blocked.
Blackburn, who had over-21s Wes Brown, Anthony Stokes and Feeney in their starting line up, began to inch their way into the game as winger Connor Mahoney forced a save from keeper Connor Ripley.
The hosts made a breakthrough mid-half when Feeney’s header found Stokes who evaded Wilson before firing into the top corner.
Latics almost responded instantly with a free kick, but Law fired over from 20 yards, Ollie Banks shot narrowly wide and Billy Mckay headed just off target.
Robinson made two changes at half time as Freddie Ladapo and Lee Croft came on to replace Jahraldo-Martin and Jamie Reckord.
That move almost paid off 15 seconds into the second half as Ladapo crossed for Flynn to hit the crossbar from 12 yards.
Loan striker Ladapo shot wide before equalising after 49 minutes as he certainly made a dramatic impact when volleying home a cross from Croft.
Latics almost took the lead two minutes later as Croft, who was causing havoc on the right, crossed to the far post for Charles Dunne but his header was well saved by keeper David Raya.
For all of Latics’ dominance in the early parts of the second half, they were undone by a wonder strike from Feeney who restored Rovers’ lead with a strike from 25 yards that arrowed into the top corner.
It was against the run of play but a setback they overcame as they equalised for a second half mid-half when Brian Wilson stabbed home a Banks free kick from six yards.
Croft and Cameron Burgess had late chances to win the game for Latics, but they failed to find the net and avoid the need for penalties.
In the shootout, Banks, Mckay, keeper Ripley and Ryan McLaughlin converted, whilst Croft netted the winner to give Latics the bonus point after Feeney had Blackburn’s only miss.
Oldham Athletic (3-5-2): Ripley; Law, Burgess, Wilson; Dunne, Fane, Banks, Flynn (McLaughlin 65), Reckford (Ladapo 46); Jahraldo (Croft 46), Mckay. Subs (not used): Kettings, King, Klok, Osei.
Goals: Stokes (23), Feeney (61) for Blackburn. Ladapo (49), Wilson (67)
Attendance: 471