OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2, TRANMERE ROVERS 2
(Oldham won 4-3 on penalties)
Oldham Athletic, with head coach Keith Curle absent after contracting coronavirus, produced a dramatic fightback against Tranmere Rovers to book their place in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
They looked to be heading for an early exit when Tranmere established a 2-0 lead at Boundary Park with goals from Sam Foley and Elliot Nevitt.
Latics hit back with a strike from Dylan Bahamboula and an own goal from Tom Davies to force a penalty shoot-out with Danny Rogers performing heroics, saving two spot kicks before Nicky Adams netted the decisive penalty.
Prior to kick-off, it was revealed Curle would not be present after contracting Covid-19 as Colin West and Alan Sheehan took charge as they named four changes to the team beaten at home by Newport County in their opening league match with Bahamboula returning to the side.
Latics began the cup tie with attacking intent which was reinforced after just a minute when Jamie Bowden dragged a low effort from the edge of the box past the post.
Bowden then provided the delivery with a corner from which Carl Piergianni’s powerful header was brilliantly kept out by goalkeeper Ross Doohan who is on loan from Celtic.
Latics again nearly took the lead as the flamboyant Bahamboula curled an effort just past the far post with the goalkeeper beaten.
However, against the run of play, Tranmere broke the deadlock with their first clear-cut opportunity of the match in the 40th minute. Paul Glatzel possessed fantastic vision as well as having the ability to execute the pass which sent Foley one-on-one with Rogers and the attack-minded midfielder kept his composure to slot past the keeper.
Early into the second-half, Rovers doubled their advantage as Nevitt scored his first senior goal. Josh Dacres-Cogley delivered a cross to the feet of the former Warrington Town striker and he smashed into the roof of the net from inside the six-yard box.
Latics managed to pull a goal back as Bahamboula produced a moment of brilliance from a corner. The Congo international danced past several defenders on the by-line before somehow slotting a low effort past the goalkeeper from an incredibly tight angle.
Lifted by the goal, Latics showed tremendous character as they managed to equalise in the 69th minute when afree-kick from deep was steered into his own goal by Davies, leaving Doohan rooted.
Former Latics’ loanee Mani Dieseruvwe thought he had found the winner for Tranmere as he flicked in at the near post following impressive work from Glatzel on the left, however, the referee’s assistant already had his flag raised.
At the other end, Davis Keillor-Dunn was close to sending his side into the next round as Adams provided a perfectly weighted cross onto his head at the back post, but the forward’s looping header cannoned off the post before being cleared.
Glatzel was handed a golden opportunity in the 87th minute when Dieseruvwe cleverly slotted the youngster clean through on goal, but the forward was excellently denied by Rogers.
In the penalty shootout, Latics triumphed after Rogers produced two fine saves to deny Glatzel and former Latics’ captain Peter Clarke before Adams slotted the decisive penalty past Doohan as they edged home 4-3, Kyle Jameson being their one player to fail to find the net from 12 yards.
Oldham Athletic: Rogers, Hart, Cisse, Piergianni, Keillor-Dunn, Fage (Adams 63) Jameson, Stobbs, Bowden, Bahamboula (Vaughan 70), Blyth (Luamba 65). Subs (not used): Danielewicz, Whelan, Dearnley, Badan.
Goals: Bahamboula, 59, Davies, 69 own goal for Oldham. Foley, 39, Nevitt, 51. For Tranmere.
Attendance: 2,684 (845 visitors).