HAMPTON AND RICHMOND 2, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 3
Oldham Athletic avoided becoming victims of an Emirates FA Cup giantkilling act at non-league Hampton and Richmond for the second time in three seasons.
On a weekend of shock results in the first round, Latics emerged 3-2 victors at the National League South side.
It was not as uncomfortable, however, as the 2018 clash when Latics relied on a 94th minute winner from Rob Hunt in a 2-1 success.
This time it looked more emphatic as goals from Ben Garrity, Bobby Grant and Danny Rowe put Latics 3-1 ahead after 49 minutes.
However, when Sam Deadman scored his second goal for The Beavers with 15 minutes left, it was suddenly game back on.
Rowe hit the post in search of a fourth for Harry Kewell’s League Two side, who eventually secured victory against 10 men after Tyrell Miller-Rodney was sent off for a second caution in the third minute of injury time.
Head coach Harry Kewell made six changes from the side that secured a first home league win of the season five days earlier against Cheltenham Town.
The two Dylan’s, Bahamboula and Fage won recalls as did Ben Garrity, Alfie McCalmont, Bobby Grant and Danny Rowe.
The players to lose out were George Blackwood, Callum Whelan, Davis Keilor-Dunn, Jordan Barnett, the injured Zak Dearnley and Tom Hamer who was self-isolating along with second string goalkeeper Laurence Bilboe.
Latics took the lead with their first chance in the sixth minute when Garrity turned home a cross from Grant.
Hampton had chances to draw level as Miller-Rodney dragged a shot wide and Niko Muir’s effort was blocked by Kyle Jameson.
Rowe and Bahamboula were wasteful in front of goal as Latics had chances to increase their advantage before Hampton equalised after half an hour.
The Beavers equalised through a Sam Deadfield penalty after half an hour after goalkeeper Ian Lawlor brought down Rudriadh.
Latics regained the lead five minutes before half time on the break when Alfie McCalmont and Dylan Fage combined to set up Grant who had an easy finish.
And they doubled their advantage inside the opening five minutes of the second half through Rowe.
Bahamboula did well down the line and his cross found Rowe who cut inside taking two defenders out of the game before steadying himself to curl a shot into the top corner.
Gary McCann’s side were almost right back in the game immediately, in the 52nd minute, Jake Gray found himself free, but his effort sailed wide of the mark.
Brice Ntambwe was lucky not to give away a second penalty for a challenge after a good give and but referee Sam Purkiss was unmoved.
Hampton reduced the deficit in the 75th minute. Strong link-up play from Muir found Donaldson whose low driven cross found Deadfield who was able to score from close distance for his second goal of the game.
In search of a fourth goal, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson fired over the bar in the 78th minute after the hosts had failed to deal with a corner.
Rowe came inches away from his second and Latics’ fourth. He picked the ball up outside the box and curled an exquisite right-footed effort that sailed past the helpless Alan Julian but the woodwork denied the forward.
The Beavers finished the game with 10 men with Miller-Rodney picking up a yellow card in stoppage time for a petulant shove on Grant.
Oldham Athletic: Lawlor, Fage, Clarke, Jameson, Borthwick-Jackson, Ntambwe, Bahamboula, Garrity (Barnett 69), McCalmont, Grant, Rowe. Subs (not used): Jombati, Blackwood, Whelan, Keilor-Dunn, Barnett.
Goals: Deadfield, 30 pen, 75 for Hampton. Grant, 6, Grant, 40, Rowe, 49, for Oldham.