MORECAMBE 1, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0
Oldham Athletic missed out on a glamour Carabao Cup, third-round tie against Premier League Newcastle United following a loss at Morecambe.
It was a frustrating night for Latics as they were knocked out by Aaron Wildig’s first-half strike.
And following on from the opening-day league defeat to Leyton Orient, a second loss on three days was deflating as it wiped out the euphoria following the 3-0 win against Carlisle United in the Carabao Cup.
Head coach Harry Kewell made two changes from the O’s game as Italian defender Adrian Badan was handed a debut and Zak Dearnley was called up.
The two players relegated to the bench were Davis Keillor-Dunn and Bobby Grant.
The game’s decisive moment came midway through the opening period when John O’Sullivan intercepted a wayward pass, drove forward and put Wildig clean through as he chipped goalkeeper Ian Lawlor.
Badan dribbled past two defenders before unleashing low strike at goal, but the ball flew just past the upright.
Derek Adams’ side nearly doubled their advantage just before the interval as right-back Ryan Cooney found space 30-yards from goal and the Burnley loanee’s powerful strike struck the crossbar.
Liam McAlinden nearly found the net early in the second half when he received the ball on the edge of the area with his back to goal. The striker somehow found space to turn and get in a shot, but his attempt went agonisingly wide.
Tom Hamer started a dangerous move before releasing Dylan Fage whose cross was almost put into his own net by Cooney
The Shrimps should have extended their lead in the 67th minute as McAlinden flicked on a long ball into the path of substitute Adam Phillips, but the midfielder snatched at his chance as blasted wide.
In added time, Kewell’s side came close to equalising when Carl Pierganni leapt highest from a corner and powerfully headed at goal but the central defender saw his effort go just over.
Oldham Athletic: Lawlor, Hamer, Jombati, Piergianni, Borthwick-Jackson, Garrity (Rowe 83), Whelan, Fage (Grant 66), Badan (Keillor-Dunn 66), McAleny, Dearnley. Subs (not used): Woods, Barnett, Hough, Da Silva, Rowe.
Goal: Wildig (22) for Morecambe.