Totesportcasino.com Central League Cup, Group Stage

Walsall Res 1-2 Oldham Athletic Res
Stu Vose at the Banks's Stadium

Dale Stephens netted both goals as Athletic topped off an encouraging performance with a win in the Midlands.

The ex-Bury midfielder pounced after just 9 minutes to turn home a loose ball from close range and added another from the penalty spot following Marco Reich's equaliser for Walsall.

Lee Duxbury's side had the better of the play for long periods and packed an impressive attacking threat in the shape of Chris O'Grady, who set up the first goal and was unlucky not to net himself.

Athletic set about their task with gusto from the off and could have been in the lead within just a few minutes.

Lewis Alessandra's neat turn on the edge of the box gave him the space to loose off a shot, but the effort droppped just wide of Albin Kajtezovic's post.

But Athletic were ahead with nine minutes played as O'Grady's powerful shot rattled the underside of the crossbar and bounced down off Kajtezovic into the path of Stephens, who made no mistake from four yards.

The goalscorer was at the heart of things again on the quarter-hour, easing an incisive through-ball to Alessandra, who rounded the keeper and laid off into the path of the trialist only for the retreating Manny Smith to hack the ball off the line.

O'Grady was causing the home defence all sorts of problems with his pace and power, coming close with a header and shooting wide before forcing Kajtezovic into a stretching save with an angled drive.

Mark Lowe hit back with a stinging drive on 24 minutes which flashed just past Greg Fleming's right-hand post, although the Scottish stopper appeared to have the threat well covered.

Deane Smalley smashed a curler against the post, while there was a moment of controversy when the trialist was bundled over on the edge of the box - only for the referee to award the free kick the other way.

A shoulder injury sustained in the collision forced the unlucky striker off, and things got worse for Athletic six minutes before the break.

The hosts won a free kick on the left-hand edge of the box and German international striker Reich stepped up to sneak a low shot around the wall and into the bottom corner.

The best chance of the remaining minutes came just seconds before the whistle when Kieran Lee curled an inviting loose ball just wide with Katjezovic beaten.

But Athletic were awarded a penalty four minutes into the second half when Smith tripped Alessandra as the pair challenged for a ball almost on the goal-line.

Stephens stepped up and dispatched the spot-kick low into the bottom right-hand corner despite Katjezovic getting a hand to the ball.

Smalley could have added a third goal soon afterwards, but headed Neal Eardley's curling free-kick straight into the arms of the waiting keeper.

Athletic continued to pile on the pressure and came close when a stretching Tom Eaves hoisted Alessandra's centre over the top. 

Meanwhile, O'Grady kept up the pace when he got his right boot around a loose ball in the box and lashed an unstoppable effort just inches over the Katjezovic's crossbar.

The final minutes boasted few chances as Athletic wrapped things up professionally to secure an encouraging victory.

Latics: Fleming, Eardley, Rose, Stephens, Esdaile, Dawson, Smalley, Lee, O'Grady, Alessandra, Trialist (Eaves, 35).

Subs Not Used: Cowan, Bembo-Leta, Kilcourse, Ollerenshaw.

Scorers: OLD: Stephens (9, 50) WSL: Reich (39)