OLDHAM ATHLETIC RESERVES 1 (Kelly pen 64)
Walsall Reserves 2 (Nicholls 23, McDermott 87)
By Stu Vose at Boundary Park

Latics' second string fell victim to a late goal just when they thought they'd done enough to secure a point against Walsall.

In a game of few chances Alex Nicholls gave the visitors the lead with a cultured finish midway through the first half.

They held that advantage until just after the hour mark when Athletic were awarded a penalty and midfielder Ashley Kelly kept his cool to fire home.

The scores were level until 87 minutes, when Saddlers striker David McDermott tried his luck with an audacious effort from distance and pulled it off superbly.

Sean Gregan did provide a positive by coming through 45 minutes -- his first action since October -- before being substituted, while John Thompson also played the first half.

Injuries meant two under-16 players -- Josh Rose and Tom Eaves -- got their first taste of reserve team action while still members of the club's Centre of Excellence.

Latics had the better of the early exchanges, Matty Wolfenden lobbing over before Ashley Kelly fired two well-struck efforts narrowly wide.

But they were behind after 23 minutes when Nicholls beat Sean Gregan to the ball before evading John Thompson and slotting a shot low past Josh Bell.

And Troy Deeney almost doubled the advantage just after the half-hour, but his drive crashed against Bell's crossbar and bounced to safety.

Strike partner Ismel Demontagnac shot low at Bell 11 minutes before the break as the visitors began to take control, and Athletic were left frustrated when Matty Wolfenden's super low ball across goal was hacked clear by a defender just before the break.

Both Gregan and Thompson were withdrawn at half time with senior chief John Sheridan no doubt keen to protect his wafer-thin first-team squad.

Ismel Demontagnac lobbed a cheeky effort over 12 minutes after the restart, but Kelly soon had Latics back on level terms with a cool penalty after Manny Smith's foul inside the area.

Kelly then found himself in the book after an angry clash with Demontagnac -- who was substituted shortly afterwards -- and Matty Wolfenden and Rowney then combined for the latter to shoot low at Bertrand Bossu.

Deeney blasted wide for the visitors as the game entered the last 20 minutes, while Charlton Davies shot wide and Deeney forced a good save from Bell with another effort, this time from an acute angle.

It was Kelly who formulated Latics' best reply, skimming a shot into the side-netting after good pressure by substitute Eaves up front.

But Walsall stole the points three minutes from time when McDermott collected the ball fully 30 yards from goal and launched a spectacular effort over Bell for the winner.

However, Eaves did come close to a leveller in the final minute when he charged down an attempted clearance only to see the ball roll just wide of the post.

Team Stats

Latics Res: Bell, Donaghue, Winters, Kilcourse, Thompson (Rose, 46), Gregan (Knight, 46), Rowney, Fitzgerald, Brooke, Wolfenden (Eaves, 73), Kelly.

Subs Not Used: Ollerenshaw.

Booked: Kelly (68).

Sent Off: None.

Walsall Res: Bossu, Woollaston, Sansara, Davies, Smith, Schwarz, Hanna (Wilkes, 8), Nicholls, Deeney, McDermott, Demontagnac (Bacchus, 71).

Subs Not Used: Curtis, Silver, Gilmartin.

Booked: Smith (63).

Sent Off: None.

Referee: Mr R Metcalfe
Assistant: Mr G Etchells
Assistant: Mr W King
Fourth Official: Mr C Thomson