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Now Oldham have always provided a stiff challenge at this level, seemingly finding the biggest teenagers in Greater Manchester and moulding them into a team. The power in their side is always evident and it was this that helped them to take the lead with around seven minutes on the clock. An inswinging corner from the left wing was met by the head of Matty Carr and he found the top corner. He was all over Yadolahi and some refs may have given a free kick for climbing but it was not to be and the hosts were 1-0 up.
We were not phased though and around five minutes later invention and persistence from Steve Edwards on the left flank saw him burst into the box and round his man. He looked up and found Joe McKee on the edge of the box and the young Scot lined up and hammered home cleanly through a crowd to equalise.
We were taking a simple approach to the game with the clear aim of maintaining possession and biding our time. We probed through the middle but Joe Jackson was getting little change out of the behemoths in defence. We probed on the wings but McCartan and Wilson were finding it tough to run through the walls. So we decided that the first goal worked well and tried it on the other side. On the half hour mark Steven Hewitt beat three lads who had penned him in and played the ball over for Woods to sprint onto. He found the by-line and pulled it back, passing his man and moving into the box. He stabbed it across to Jackson who held off his man and teed up McKee once more, who calmly smashed the ball home.
Oldham didn't lie down and shot wide from distance before winning a corner from an Alex Coleman block just before half time. They swung it over but it was long and found McCartan who fired up the jets in his heels and charged up field. A quick one-two with McKee near the half way line took out some of the cover and he was away down the wing. As he approached the box he crossed the ball and Wilson was on hand to slide home at the far post and seal the breakaway.
In stoppage time we could and should have further extended the lead with Jackson opting to shoot on a break when others were much better placed, then dragging an effort wide when he turned his defender and broke through. However, it finished at half time 3-1 with Oldham looking a little ragged.
The 2nd half started and for at least twenty minutes there was only really one team in it - and that was the hosts. Tony Philliskirk had obviously fired them up and they dominated without really testing the Clarets goal. A rare opportunity for us was engineered by McKee as he fired in a 20 yard left footed effort but it just drifted wide. The hosts then tested the gloves of Josh Cook as he tipped round a shot heading for the top corner.
With 20 minutes left to play Pash decided to freshen things up a little introducing Mehdi Lazaar in place of McCartan. He stayed on the left and Wilson moved over to the right. It didn't really change much and the Oldham defence was looking pretty solid, intent on preserving the 2nd half clean sheet. It would likely need a moment of brilliance to breach them.
Fortunately that is what we were treated to. We attacked but a through ball was heavy and the keeper cleared, but it only reached the half way line and landed at the feet of McKee. He saw the goalie off his line and his eyes lit up. He was stood just inside the centre circle so you can decide the distance yourself and he found the top corner with an exquisite chip. It really was a touch of class to crown his hat trick.
Pash then withdrew him to the applause of spectators and staff alike. Alex Mullin came on for him and was soon joined on the pitch by Adam Evans who replaced Wilson. We created nothing else of note and closed the game out with a very impressive 4-1 win.
Team:- Josh Cook, Curtis Woods, Steve Edwards, Alex Coleman, Neil Yadolahi, Dave Lynch, Steven Hewitt, Joe McKee (Alex Mullin), Ross Wilson (Adam Evans), Shay McCartan (Mehdi Lazaar), Joe Jackson.
Subs not used:- Tommy Taylor, Archie Love