Report by John Patrick Heeley

Wigan Athletic twice came from behind at Boundary Park to book their place in the second round of the LDV Trophy and a trip to Walsall's Bescot Stadium.

A goal on the stroke of half time from Brian McLaughlin and a 70th minute Alan McLoughlin header forced the tie into extra time.

Wigan have finally put one over on Oldham at the fourth time of asking thanks to a Golden Goal in the first round of the LDV Trophy at Boundary Park from former Republic of Ireland international Alan McLoughlin.

Wigan manager Bruce Rioch made a full eleven changes from the starting line up that beat Swansea on Saturday and gave a debut to loan signing Andy Marriott in goal.

He had decided to rest his regular first teamers ahead of Saturday's big game against Millwall at the New Den and give the rest of the lads a much needed run out.

Rioch's counterpart Andy Ritchie on the other hand had only just managed to scrape a team together and even had to pull a shirt on himself at the tender age of 40 after a flu epidemic had ripped through his squad and even with himself included the manager could only name 4 substitutes for the game.

Wigan started the game well and within the first ten minutes Neil Roberts was unlucky when Oldham's Paul Rickers stretched out his boot to deny the Welsh striker at the far post as he stole in from behind to get on the end of a long cross from the right wing.

The resulting corner saw Gareth Griffiths, sent upfield for his obvious height advantage, go close with the ball shaving the top of his head as he barged his way through the host of players around the near post.

Wigan weren't having the best of the possession but were creating the better chances and Nicholls, making his return from injury after an eight week lay off, should have done far better after a clever little flick through the defence sent him clear on goal with only Gary Kelly to beat but he was a yard off the pace and the goalkeeper beat him to the ball.

Just before the half hour Alan Mcloughlin dispossed an Oldham defender 20 yards out and had a clear view of goal but took too long on the ball and gave Oldham the chance to block his shot on goal. A scramble for the loose balll ensued, Brian McLaughlin was the player who ended up with it but his low effort from the edge of the penalty area had hardly enough power to reach Kelly.

Five minutes later an incurling cross from Brian McLaughlin on the right wing forced Kelly to finger tip save as the ball was heading for the roof of the net.

However, it was the home side who claimed first blood on 36 minutes owith a long ball upfield finding young PHILLIP SALT who calmly placed it under the body of despairing Wigan keeper Marriott.

Wigan battled back and with seconds ticking away before the interval wee BRIAN MCLAUGHLIN raced doen the right edge of the penalty area, rounded Gary Kelly, who for a moment looked like he was going to bring the Wigan midfielder down, and McLaughlin calmy sided footed into the net from an angle.

HALF TIME: Oldham 1 Wigan 1

Wigan's second string soon found themselves behind again when Matthew Tipton tried to squeeze through the Wigan defence as he charged towards goal and young defender Paul Mitchell, making only his 3rd first team start for the club, was harshly adjudged to have brought the Oldham man down inside the area.

MATTHEW TIPTON stepped up to take the penalty himself and sent Marriott the wrong way for his third goal of the season.

Minutes later Tipton went close to making it three when his low drive from just outside the area took the slightest of deflections and went marginally wide of the right post for a corner.

It took Wigan until the 70th minute to get back on level terms. A deep cross from Gino Padula was met by the head of ALAN MCLOUGHLIN who powered the ball into the back of the net leaving Kelly with no chance.

Shortly after that Ian Johnson making his debut for Wigan nearly gave Wigan the lead for the first time in the game when his shot was put around the far post by a diving Gary Kelly.

The game was given a bit of novelty value with 4 minutes of normal time remaining when Oldham manager Andy Ritchie brought himself on for Ryan Sugden and immediately went upfield in a bid for glory and make tomorrow's headlines.

His age showed through however as the youngsters ran rings round him but I wonder how many of them will play a game of professional football at the age of 40?

FULL TIME: Oldham 2 Wigan 2

So extra time it was for the second year running for Wigan. An Andy Morris strike had disposed of Burnley in the competition last year but would Wigan be able to repeat it and progress to the next phase?

They waited only 5 minutes when Paul Rickers in the Oldham defence hesitated on the ball giving Padula the opportunity to take it away from him.

The Argentinian crossed to Neil Roberts who was waiting in the middle of the area but instead of having a crack himself he squared the ball to an unmarked ALAN MCLOUGHLIN to his right who made no mistake in firing home.

WIGAN GO THROUGH ON THE GOLDEN GOAL RULE