OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2, BURTON ALBION 3
Oldham Athletic were knocked out of the Carabao Cup following an absorbing second half to their first-round tie at home to Burton Albion.
After a goalless opening period which meandered along, the game exploded to life after the restart when all five goals were scored.
Luke Varney gave the Brewers the lead, Latics hit back through goals by Paul Green and Craig Davies to move ahead only for the visitors to snatch victory through strikes from Matty Lund and a late penalty from Lucas Akins.
Manager John Sheridan resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes in the wake of Saturday’s home defeat by Oxford United.
Courney Duffus and Cameron Dummigan came in to replace Craig Davies and Ollie Banks in a slightly rejigged line up.
Hope Akpan and Varney had early chances for Latics while Latics gradually began to carve out openings.
Aaron Amadi-Holloway had three, two were well saved by former Latics’ loan keeper Connor Ripley and another flew wide as the game remained goalless.
Matt Palmer, another former Latics loanee, also went close with a free kick just before the break.
Burton took the lead two minutes into the second period when Varney intercepted a poor back pass fron Ousmane Fane to round keeper Ben Wilson to score.
It didn’t take long for Burton to take the lead after the break and it came from a mistake from Latics.
Latics were level within six minutes when Paul Green’s free kick from 30 yards crept into the net past Ripley.
They went ahead midway through the half when Ryan McLaughlin was tripped and Davis, who replaced had Duffus, sent Ripley the wrong way from the spot.
Burton quickly made it 2-2 as Lund converted a cut back by Joe Sbarra from close range.
Latics had the chance to regain the lead when substitute Tope Obadeyi forced a decent save from Ripley.
But with extra time looming, Burton snatched victory when McLaughlin conceded a penalty and Akins scored from the spot.
Right at the death, Latics almost made it 3-3 when Peter Clarke’s header was turned on to the upright by Ripley, something that demonstrated how fine the margins are.
Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Ben Wilson, Brian Wilson, Gerrard, Clarke, Hunt; Dummigan (Obadeyi 75), Green, Fane (Fawns 90+2), McLaughlin; Holloway, Duffus (Davies 55′). Subs (not used): Banks, Edmundson, Stott.
Goals: Green (53), Davies (67) for Oldham. Varney (47), Lund (69), Akins (86) for Burton.
Attendance: 2,176