OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1, BARNSLEY 2
A much-changed Oldham Athletic side lost at home to League One Barnsley in their opening group game in the Checkatrade Trophy.
Manager Frank Bunn made seven, though Daniel Iversen and Gevaro Nepomuceno were missing through international call-ups.
It was chance to give new loan-signing Callum Lang and Zeus de la Paz their first starts and rare appearances for Christian Benteke and Mohammad Maouche.
Latics, who had regulars Peter Clarke, Rob Hunt, Chris O’Grady, Dan Gardner and Jose Baxter on the bench, made a great start, taking the lead through loan striker Sam Surridge.
But Barnsley hit back through goals from Victor Adeboyejo and George Moncur to snatch victory as the game appeared to be heading towards penalties.
The first chance came from a free kick as stand-in captain Andy Taylor forced a save a smart stop from Jack Walton, who was on loan at Stalybridge Celtic last season, in the Barnsley goal.
Adeboyejo had the visitors first chance as the ball broke through to him in the box and he forced a good save from de la Paz.
Lang had a great chance to open his account later as Barnsley didn’t deal with a Tom Hamer long throw, but the Wigan loanee scuffed the shot into Walton’s hands.
Good play down the right-hand side from Hamer and Benteke presented another chance to Lang, but this time he couldn’t keep his header down.
Latics took the lead after a long ball wasn’t dealt with and Surridge burst past Liam Lindsay before slotting home past Walton.
Barnsley equalised just before the half ended as it broke through to Adeboyejo in the penalty area and he poked it into the bottom corner to take the teams in level at half time.
Bunn made early changes in the second half as Chris O’Grady and Jose Baxter were both introduced.
Barnsley were caught sleeping after they switched off from the restart from a throw in and Walton saved well from Benteke before Taylor volleyed the rebound over.
Both teams created half chances as Cameron McGeehan put a free header over the bar and Johan Branger-Engone hit the side netting.
However, the visitors took the lead with eight minutes left after Latics failed to deal with a ball on the edge of the box and substitute Moncur picked his spot and drove it into the top corner.
Latics almost took the game to penalties in the dying seconds as Taylor crossed for Benteke whose powerful header was saved brilliantly by Walton.
Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): de la Paz; Hamer, Graham, Edmundson, Taylor; Branger-Engone, Missilou (Baxter 57), Maouche, Benteke; Lang (Gardner 84), Surridge (O’Grady 60). Subs (not used): Stott, Hunt, Clarke, McFarlane.
Attendance 1,786 (443 visitors)