WALSALL 1, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 3
Oldham Athletic moved into the last 16 of the Checkatrade Trophy after staging a dramatic late fightback at Walsall.
Three goals in the last 21 minutes from substitutes Lee Croft and Lee Erwin and Cameron Burgess overturned a deficit at the Bescot Stadium where Amadou Bakayoko had given the Sadlers a first-half lead.
And the win at Walsall earned a tie at Mansfield Town as they inch ever closer to a final appearance at Wembley.
It was a measure of how seriously Latics are taking the competition that they fielded almost their strongest line up.
Manager Stephen Robinson made only one change from the side that started at Oxford on Saturday as the fit-again Freddie Ladapo replaced Paul Green who was rested.
Robinson reverted to 4-4-2 having gone with a 4-5-1 system at Oxford where Billy Mckay was the lone front runner.
Latics came close to taking the lead after six minutes when Ryan McLaughlin drove at the Walsall defence and unleashed a fierce strike towards the top corner but a wonder save from Craig MacGillivray denied the winger as his shot was deflected on to the crossbar.
Two minutes later, the lively Billy Mckay almost capitalised on a cross into the box but again the Walsall goalkeeper was out quickly to deny the striker.
Latics were almost made to pay for failing to make their early dominance count as, after 18 minutes, Florent Cuvelier was presented with an open goal from 12 yards but struck his effort over the crossbar.
Just after the half hour, Latics thought they had taken the lead when Cameron Burgess’ far-post header forced a smart save from the goalkeeper, but it fell straight into the path of Mckay who converted from close range, however, the assistant flagged for offside.
The momentum was with Latics again and a minute later, Ladapo used his pace and power to knock Matt Preston off the ball, but he curled his shot past the post.
With half time approaching, and Latics much the better team in the first half, Walsall took the lead completely against the run of play.
Bakayoko picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and unleashed an unstoppable effort, giving Connor Ripley no chance, and Walsall went into the break with the advantage.
Robinson made two changes at the break as Croft and Carl Winchester replaced the two Ryan’s, McLaughlin and Flynn, and both made an instant impact.
Winchester had the first opportunity of the second half after latching on to a Charles Dunne low cross, but his effort went over the crossbar.
Latics continued to do all the pressing and just before the hour mark, Ladapo’s persistence saw him fire at goal, the ball deflected into the path of Ollie Banks but he struck over from the edge of the box.
Mckay almost profited from some route one football minutes later but MacGillivary made a smart save to deny him as Latics continued to dominate.
They were finally rewarded for their efforts after 69 minutes when the lively Croft, struck from 25 yards as his fierce drive found the bottom corner.
Five minutes later and with the momentum behind them, Latics turned the game on its head and took the lead.
After Banks’ corner was cleared back to him, the midfielder whipped in a teasing cross that Burgess flicked into the far corner to put Robinson’s men ahead.
Walsall almost conjured an equaliser 10 minutes from time as full-back Scott Laird’s shot from inside the penalty area was superbly saved by Ripley.
While Walsall attacked, Latics threatened on the counter attack and with only a minute of the game remaining, Erwin notched the clinching third goal.
And it was the work of Ousmane Fane as he won the ball in midfield, advanced on goal, released Erwin who cut inside and finished low into the bottom corner from inside the penalty area.
Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Ripley; Law, Clarke, Burgess, Dunne; McLaughlin (Croft 46), Fane, Banks, McLaughlin, Flynn (Winchester 46); Mckay, Ladapo (Erwin 72). Subs (not used): Kettings, Wilson, Dummigan, Osei.
Goals: Bakayoko 44 for Walsall, Croft 69, Burgess 73, Erwin 89 for Oldham.
Attendance: 925 (71 visiting supporters)