AFC BOURNEMOUTH 4, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1
Spirited Oldham Athletic failed to replicate an encouraging first-half display as they were beaten at Championship club AFC Bournemouth in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.
The Cherries progressed to the last 32 after assuming control with three second-half goals in a tie which had seen Latics forced to surrender home advantage because of a frozen Boundary Park pitch.
And having made 10 changes from the side that won at Stoke City last time out, Bournemouth had a little too much quality for head coach Harry Kewell’s side.
Latics, to their credit, managed 13 goal attempts to 19 from the Cherries, an indication that they contributed greatly to an entertaining tie.
With the fixture schedule so tight, the Football Association ordered the tie be switched to the Vitality Stadium where there were no such issues.
Latics, who had top scorer Conor McAleny on the bench but no Danny Rowe in their matchday squad, relied on Davis Keillor-Dunn and Dylan Bahamboula for their attacking thrust.
Bahamboula sent a shot into the side netting within the first minute after cutting in from the right.
Carl Piergianni’s glancing header from a Jordan Barnett corner was touched away by goalkeeper Will Dennis and, though the home side had a sustained period of possession midway through the first half, it was Latics who had the better moments.
Keillor-Dunn turned well on the edge of the area before firing over and Bahamboula shot straight at Dennis, while at the other end David Brooks and Rodrigo Riquelme had chances.
Latics came within inches of taking the lead just after the half-hour when Barnett bent an effort towards goal, only for the ball to strike the upright.
It was against the run of play that Bournemouth took a 43rd minute, Wales international David Brooks scoring with a deflected shot from 20 yards.
Yet Latics were rewarded for their good play in stoppage time when Keillor-Dunn was brought down by Dennis, allowing Bahamboula to convert from the spot to make it 1-1 at the break.
The second half, however, was a very different story, Riquelme converting from close range within four minutes of the restart and the hosts proceeded to take command.
Goalkeeper Ian Lawlor saved from Jordan Zemura and Josh King, who added the third with 16 minutes to go, finding the target with a close-range header.
King completed the scoring in the 86th minute with a neat turn and finish for his second of the game.
Oldham Athletic: Lawlor, Clarke, Piergianni Garrity (Whelan 78), Keillor-Dunn, Ntambwe (McAleny 67), Barnett, Diarra (Dearnley 70), Bahamboula, McCalmont, Hamer. Subs (not used): Bilboe, Jombati, Fage, Jameson, Badan, Luamba.
Goals: Brooks, 43, Riquelme, 49, King, 74, 86. Bahamboula 45+1 for Oldham.