OLDHAM ATHLETIC 4, LEICESTER CITY U21 2
Oldham Athletic moved to within two steps away from Wembley after beating Leicester City U21s in the Checkatrade Trophy.
Latics set up a quarter-final tie with Shrewsbury Town after a double strike from Craig Davies and further goals by Anthony Gerrard and Tope Obadeyi sparked a remarkable second-half fightback.
They had trailed at the break through a goal from Josh Knight while Ahmed Musa made it 2-2 before Gerrard and Obadeyi sealed victory through late goals.
Manager Richie Wellens named youth-team defender Tom Hamer in the starting line up as Cameron Dummigan missed the game through injury injury.
Latics almost took the lead after seven minutes when Hamer’s long throw in found Craig Davies in the box, he cut the ball back to Brian Wilson but his shot was cleared off the line.
Latics continued to attack and Kundai Benyu curled a free kick towards the top corner, but Ben Hamer made the save.
Minutes later, Tope Obadeyi met a deflected Gevaro Nepomuceno cross into the box but Leicester defender Robert Huth cleared off the line.
Just after the half hour mark, defender George Edmundson headed against the post but had to be alive at the other end from the counter attack when Fousseni Diabate raced past the defence and looked to find the bottom corner, but Edmundson cleared off the line.
Leicester took the lead after 43 minutes through Knight. After Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s shot was parried by keeper Jonny Placide, it fell into the path of Knight who converted from close range.
Edmundson had a chance before the break to level but he could not connect properly with a header from a corner.
Wellens introduced Aaron Amadi-Holloway at the break in place of Benyu and he made an immediate impact as Latics equalised.
A defence splitting pass by Ben Pringle saw Amadi-Holloway set up who poked home a low shot.
The striker had the perfect opportunity to put Latics ahead five minutes later when they were awarded a penalty.
Gevaro Nepomuceno’s cross hit a Leicester hand and Davies stepped up but his initial kick was saved, but he fired home the rebound.
Nepomuceno had two chances to extend Latics’ lead minutes later. He smashed his first effort wide after being set up by Amadi-Holloway, then he cut inside and fired straight at Hamer.
Latics were made to rue those missed chances as Leicester equalised after 68 minutes. Latics were temporarily down to 10-men after Hamer went off injured and Leicester capitalised.
Harvey Barnes received the ball out wide, crossed into the centre for Musa to convert from close range.
Latics did not let their heads drop and went in search of the lead for a second time.
And they went ahead again after 76 minutes through Gerrard. Pringle’s corner to the back post found Amadi-Holloway who laid the ball into the path of the central defender to score.
Latics sealed victory four minutes from time when Obadeyi met a Pringle to head home from eight yards to put Latics through to the quarter finals.
Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Placide; Hamer (Maouche 69), Gerrard, Edmundson, Wilson; Fane (Omrani 82), Pringle, Benyu (Amadi-Holloway 46), Nepomuceno; Obadeyi, Davies. Subs (not used): Kyrermeh, Uche, Scholes-Beard, Duffus.
Goals: Davies (50, 56), Gerrard (76), Obadeyi (86) for Oldham. Knight (43), Musa (68).
Attendance: 1,192