DONCASTER ROVERS 2, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1
A controversial last-minute penalty broke the spirits of unlucky Oldham Athletic as their Emirates FA Cup adventure ended with a fourth-round defeat at League One side Doncaster Rovers.
Ben Whiteman’s second goal of the game helped Rovers reach the fifth round for the first time in 63 years as Latics, conquerers of Premier League Fulham in the previous round, were knocked out.
It was a bitter pill for Latics’ caretaker manager Pete Wild who believed his side had been unlucky after a replay had looked nailed on.
Embed from Getty Images“Clear as day, that was never a penalty in a million years,” declared Wild after viewing a replay on of the handball by captain and central defender Peter Clarke.
Wild said: “They had a lot of chances and they were always going to score one of them, and they did.
“We stayed resilient, got a goal of our own and then it could have gone either way. It’s disappointing that a controversial goal has won the game.”
It was also a match in which Clarke was the central figure for Latics as he made a spectacular first-half goalline clearance, deflected Rovers’ opening goal past keeper Daniel Iversen, scored the equaliser, conceded the penalty for Rovers’ winner and was sent off in stoppage time during what had been an eventful afternoon for the 37-year-old.
Jose Baxter won a surprise recall for only his third start of an injury-hit season as he replaced the suspended Mohamed Maouche.
Chris O’Grady returned after injury as he replaced new-signing Urko Vera who scored on his debut in the defeat at Macclesfield Town.
They were the two changes from that loss as Wild went with a new striker pairing of O’Grady and Baxter with Callum Lang reverting to the left wing.
Rovers dominated the opening 20 minutes against a nervy Latics.
A loose ball broke into the path of Alfie May who dragged a shot wide before John Marquis saw a shot blocked by Tom Hamer.
Latics created an opening as Christopher Missilou broke away with the ball eventually falling to O’Grady who’s shot was straight at Marko Marosi.
Rovers went up the other end and Iversen had to be at his very best as a corner fell to James Coppinger whose shot was well saved by the Danish U21 International.
May then hit one straight at Iversen after a driving run before Clarke produced a moment of brilliance at the back to clear Marquis’ shot off the line after he had rounded Iversen.
Wild’s side almost found themselves in front on the counter as the half came to a close, but as the ball fell to Johan Branger-Engone he curled an effort over the bar.
Branger-Engone dragged a shot wide early in the second half before Kieran Sadlier forced Iversen into a fantastic diving save.
O’Grady then set up Baxter from a cross as he headed wide before Branger-Engone forced a save from Marosi.
However, against the run of play Rovers took the lead with 22 minutes left.
George Edmundson gave the ball away and Rovers broke as the ball fell to Whiteman and his shot deflected off Clarke and beat Iversen.
Missilou hit the post with a left-footed shot as Callum Lang hit the rebound wide before Latics finally grabbed a deserved equaliser with six minutes left.
Gevaro Nepomuceno’s free-kick hit the Rovers wall and Clarke reacted quickest to tap the loose ball into an empty net.
Latics’ joy was short-lived when they conceded a penalty when referee Peter Bankes pointed to the penalty spot after judging Clarke’s raised arm had made contact with a cross as he attempted a headed clearance.
Whiteman stepped up and dispatched the penalty which turned out to be then winner and to add insult to injury Clarke was sent off for a second yellow for a foul on goalkeeper Marosi.
Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Iversen; Hamer, Clarke, Edmundson, Nepomuceno; Branger-Engone, Sylla, Missilou, Lang; Baxter (Vera 76), O’Grady. Subs (not used): Dummigan, Taylor, de la Paz, Benteke, Hunt, Robinson.
Attendance 11, 260 (3796 visitors)