OLDHAM ATHLETIC 3, SOUTHEND UNITED 2
(after extra time, 1-1 after 90 minutes)
Oldham Athletic turned despair to delirium in the space of two magical minutes to reclaim their place in the EFL.
The Vanarama National League play-off final produced possibly its most dramatic finish in its history as Latics snatched victory from the jaws of defeat before a play-off record crowd of 52,115.
They were 2-1 behind in the second period of extra time before substitutes James Norwood and Kian Harratt scored in as many minutes to complete the most remarkable turnabouts.
And it ensured Latics’ three-year exile from the EFL is over as they secured a first promotion in 34 years – it has been one long spiral downwards from the Premier League to non-league.
There was unbridled joy at the final whistle as Latics lifted the cup in front of 21,000 fans.
And as they did their victory lap they were joined by owner Frank Rothwell and wife Judith as the Oldham businessman, who saved the club from extinction in 2022 and provided the stability which has enabled them to start the long journey back to the top.
This win also helped erase some of the pain and heartbreak from their previous Wembley appearances – this was their third visit and their first win,
You won’t need reminding they lost to Nottingham Forest in the 1990 final of the Littlewoods Cup and appeared in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United which ended 1-1 – they were cruelly denied by Mark Hughes’ 120th minute leveller.
It was also a memorable day for Micky Mellon as became only the second manager to guide three teams into the EFL – he had previously won promotions with Fleetwood in 2012 and Tranmere in 2018.
Mellon, who has six promotions as a manager, said: “It’s an unbelievable achievement to get a result from where we were.
“This club is a monster. We were under pressure, we needed to go up, it makes so much difference to everything, we can really build forward. It’s massive to get us in there. Everything changes now. I’m delighted.
“That is supposed to be non-league, and you get 53,000 at the game.
Embed from Getty Images“There are some really big clubs in the NL who have been allowed to stagnate. York should have gone up automatically when you look at how many points they got. It should be three up, three down. Teams like York and Southend would make the EFL better.
“I’ve been in League Two and there are teams there who are not as ambitious as those in the National League.”
Mellon added something need to be done to address the season finishing so late which impacts their recruitment and planning for next season.
He continued: “It’s the stuff of dreams. All credit to the players because it’s been such a long season – it’s been a month since the league season ended.
“We missed a lot of chances, but they managed to keep going and get over the line.
“The momentum will be massive now and going into League Two, Oldham will be a good force.”
Shrimpers’ manager Kevin Maher, a former Latics’ player, said: “It’s a rollercoaster of emotions. Getting the goal early was exactly what we wanted.
“It’s a cruel way to lose, to get the lead in extra time. The winner was cruel, it’s a cross that just evades people and goes in.
“It’s disappointing because I can’t fault the players but congratulations to Oldham – they are a brilliant club and deserve this as much as we would have.
“When we reflect, we should be proud as a football club to see how far we’ve come in such a short period of time.”
Maher also advocated three up to help resolve the “bottleneck” in the National League adding that EFL clubs won’t sanction it because it is like turkeys voting for Christmas.
Oldham were unchanged from the side which won 3-0 at York City in the semi-final.
Southend, meanwhile, made two changes from the side which won at Forest Green in the semi-final.
Jack Bridge and Cav Miley came into the starting line-up for Leon Chambers-Parillon and Oli Coker who were among the substitutes.
The Essex side have drafted in goalkeeper Nathan Harness on an emergency loan from MK Dons.
He played three games on loan earlier this season and took his place on the bench today.
Latics got off to the worst possible start falling behind in the fifth minute through a Manny Monthe own goal.
A ball was played over Latics’ defence and Monthe, with Charley Kendall on his shoulder, hesitated and then flicked the ball past keeper Matthew Hudson as it rolled into unguarded goal.
Latics had a great chance to equalise in the 17th minute when Vimal Yoganathan headed wide at the far post from Mark Kitching’s cross, a gilt-edged chance to draw level.
Mike Fondop also had a chance for Latics but fired narrowly wide as they looked for a way back into the game.
They went close again when Joe Garner headed against th upright from a corner, though there was cover on the line.
And Latics ought to have drawn level shortly before the break when a lucky ricochet sent Fondop clean through on goal. He dinked the ball over keeper Nick Hayes but the ball rolled agonisingly wide as he almost netted his 19th goal of the season.
Latics made the perfect start to the second period winning a penalty in the first minute when Ben Goodliffe wrestled Monthe to the ground from a long throw-in which Southend failed to clear.
Joe Garner sent keeper Hayes the wrong way from the spot for his fifth goal in the last four games – amazingly he failed to find the net this season until the last league game against Ebbsfleet.
Latics almost went ahead mid-half after a shot was blocked and rebounded to Fondop who was clean through. This time he hit the target, but Hayes made a brilliant save low to his left.
The nine minutes of stoppage time saw Latics have two decent chances as Mark Kitching’s drive flew narrowly wide and substitute James Norwood produced an air shot from Fondop’s knockdown when he was well placed.
Southend made an electrifying start to extra time regaining the lead within 42 seconds through substitute Parillon.
A deflected cross from Gus Scott-Morriss was palmed away but only on to the head of Parillon who nodded home with ease at the fat post.
Parillon joined Southend from Slough in January, and this was only his second goal, the other being in the play-off eliminator win at Rochdale.
Southend had the chance to wrap up victory early in the second period of extra time when substitute Josh Walker cut in from the right and his shot was brilliantly saved by Hudson.
It was to prove a costly miss as barely two minutes later, Latics were level when Goodliffe failed to head a long ball forward as Norwood nipped in to round keeper Hayes and slot home a low shot.
Norwood is no stranger to scoring at Wembley as he grabbed the winner for Mellon’s Tranmere side in 2018.
Barely had the game restarted and Southend were picking the ball out of the net again.
Harratt sent in a low cross from the left which Goodliffe and Fondop tried to reach, but it eluded everyone as it found the net.
The Southend players could not believe what had happened as they sank to the turf in disbelief.
They showed the resilience which brought hard-earned play-off victories against Rochdale and Forest Green Rovers as they put Latics under considerable pressure in the closing minutes.
Latics defended resolutely and at the final whistle came jubilant scenes as the party began.