OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2, LEEDS UNITED U21 3
Oldham Athletic scored four goals but still ended up losing to Leeds United U21s at home in the Papa John’s Trophy.
The trouble was that defenders Harrison McGahey and Kyle Jameson found their own net for two of Leeds United’s three strikes.
Crysencio Summerville’s penalty late in the opening half and McGahey’s own goal just short of the hour saw Leeds open a 2-0 lead.
Zak Dearnley halved the deficit with 12 minutes left, but Leeds quickly restored a two-goal advantage when Jameson out through his own goal.
That meant Davis Keillor-Dunn’s injury-time effort was too little, too late as Latics failed to build on their group win against Salford City.
Head coach Keith Curle made seven changes from the side that beat Rochdale in Sky Bet League Two at the weekend, scholars Jim Simms and Joe Edwards making the bench for the first time.
Leeds had the first chance of the game after six minutes when Sean McGurk who blasted wide from six yards.
Lewis Bate tried his luck from range for the visitors moments later, but the England U20 international saw his effort clear Jayson Leutwiler’s crossbar.
Jack Stobbs was proving to be Latics’ main threat and he produced Latics’ first shot of the game after 23 minutes but couldn’t find the target with his powerful strike.
Latics threatened again when Harrison McGahey found himself free from Stobbs’ corner. His volley fell to Dearnley who saw his flick blocked by Harvey Sutcliffe.
Another wonderful delivery from the right from Stobbs found the head of Vani Da Silva who forced Kristoffer Klaesson into his first save of the game.
Leeds broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute when Jameson was brought down by Summerville who blasted home the penalty.
They doubled their advantage after 58 minutes, McGurk cut the ball back from the by-line and the ball deflected into the back of the net off captain McGahey.
Dearnley missed a great chance after 71 minutes. Jamie Bowden wanted the ball to be squared but Dearnley went for goal himself and dragged his shot wide.
Dylan Fage then forced Klaesson into a save. He cut inside from the left and drilled a shot from 25 yards, but the Norwegian keeper got down to his right to keep it out.
Dearnley got Oldham back in the game with 12 minutes left. McGahey drove forward and found Dearnley who turned in the box before coolly slotting past Klaesson.
Leeds restored their two-goal lead two minutes later, Bate found space down the left and cut the ball back to McGurk. Leutwiler made a great save to his left to deny McGurk but the ball deflected in off Jameson for another own goal.
Amari Miller had two efforts as Leeds pushed for a fourth, firstly he dragged a left-footed effort wide from the edge of the box and then forcing Leutwiler into a routine save.
Latics kept pushing, substitute Callum Whelan had a shot from outside the box saved by Klaesson and the Leeds keeper was forced into action again minutes later, saving from Keillor-Dunn.
Keillor-Dunn then added a stunning second for Latics in the third minute of added time, but it was too little too late and Leeds collected three points from this Group B match.
Oldham Athletic: Leutwiler; Fage, McGahey, Jameson; Stobbs (Keillor-Dunn, 46), Bowden, Bettache (Whelan, 65), Vaughan, Couto (Diarra, 46); Da Silva, Dearnley. Subs (unused): Danielewicz, Bahamboula, Simms, Edwards.
Goals: Dearnley (78), Keillor-Dunn (90+3) for Oldham Athletic. Summerville (42p), McGahey (58og), Jameson (80og)
Attendance: 732 (108 visitors).