OLDHAM ATHLETIC 4, WOLVES U21 0
Oldham Athletic returned to winning way with a home victory against Wolves U21s in the EFL Trophy.
After a run of three straight losses in which they failed to find the net, it was a huge lift for Harry Kewell’s side.
There was a brace from substitute Conor McAleny and goals from Danny Rowe and Bobby Grant to boost the spirits of the front players.
It must be said 4-0 flattered as Latics were only 1-0 ahead with five minutes left.
Kewell made four changes to the side that was heavily beaten at Stevenage three days earlier.
McAleny, Ben Garrity, Davis Keiller-Dunn and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson made way for Dylan Fage, Jordan Barnett, Adrian Baden and second-year scholar Ben Hough who was handed a debut.
Wolves made the brighter start as Austin Samuels fired over and Luke Cundle’s long-rang effort was well kept out by goalkeeper Ian Lawlor.
Barnett, making his first start, crossed for Fage to head over, Latics’ first chance of the match.
As Latics began to take control, they made the breakthrough in the 42nd minute through Rowe.
Former AFC Fylde striker Rowe played a return pass with Barnett before firing low past goalkeeper Joe Young.
Hough almost marked his bow with a debut goal, shooting narrowly wide after Tom Hamer and Fage linked to set him up.
Substitute McAleny looked lively and, after intercepting a stray pass, dragged his goal attempt wide.
The second goal came when Keillor-Dunn provided the assist for Grant who found the net from 25 yard after a fine dribble.
McAleny added a third with a rasping shot which Young could only parry into how own net.
He struck again three minutes later in stoppage time managing to divert Grant’s cross in off his shoulder as the ball looped over the goalkeeper.
Oldham Athletic:Lawlor, Jombati, Piergianni, Whelan (Garrity 46), Rowe, Grant, Fage (Keillor-Dunn 77), Barnett, Badan (McAleny 61), Hough, Hamer. Subs (not used): Chapman, De Silva, Luamba, Sutton.
Goals: Rowe 42, Grant 85, McAleny 88, 91.