SHREWSBURY TOWN 2, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0.
One of two possible routes to Wembley came to an abrupt end as Oldham Athletic lost at Shrewsbury Town in the first round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.
It was a disappointing night for Latics as the newly-promoted Shrews, without a win in Sky Bet League One, secured their second knockout win of the campaign following their victory at Blackburn Rovers in the Capital One Cup.
Goals from Liam McAlinden and Tyrone Barnett, each scored five minutes either side of half time, saw the Shrews progress at Latics’ expense.
It was a night when Latics’ manager Darren Kelly rang the changes, though he had to field six of the starters from Saturday’s derby at Bury.
Kelly handed full debuts to three players, the two George’s, Green and Edmundson along with Mark Yeates, while there were run outs for keeper David Cornell and Rhys Turner.
Cornell was the busier of the keepers and was forced into early action with a diving save to deny Barnett while he also had to deal with an effort from former Latics’ favourite James Wesolowski.
And when Barnett beat Cornell, 18-year-old Edmundson popped up to clear the danger.
Green had a strike at goal for Latics, but it was the Shrews who remained on control and was no surprise when they took the lead after 40 minutes.
Jordan Clark threaded a neat through ball to McAlinden who beat Cornell at his near post.
And they might have finished the opening half 2-0 ahead had centre-back Mark Ellis not headed wide with the goal at his mercy.
Yet Latics may have trooped off on level terms when Green’s volley from the edge of the box was well saved by keeper Jayson Leutwiler.
Shrews didn’t have to wait long before they doubled their lead as Latics were punished trying to play the ball out from the back. James Wilson’s back pass was short and intercepted by Barnett who breezed past Cornell to score into an empty goal.
Latics brought on striker Rhys Murphy in place of left-back Connor Brown, switching to a more attack minded 3-2-3-2 as they finally began to cause problems for the Shrews.
Green’s 30-yard shot brought a good save from Leutwiler while Murphy had claims for a penalty rejected.
Latics even threw on last season’s top scorer Jonathan Forte, but to no avail as they were unable to find a route to goal.