Oldham Athletic came from 0-2 down to beat Everton U21s and send the club through to the knockout phases of the Checkatrade Trophy.

Goals from Peter Clarke, Ishmael Miller and Jonathan Benteke were enough for Latics after Nathangelo Markelo and Shayne Lavery had put the visitors in a strong position.

Latics almost took an early lead after Cameron Dummigan pinched the ball in the centre of the pitch before releasing Callum Lang who had his shot blocked as he made space in the box.

However, the visitors took the lead after Oldham failed to clear a freekick away as it fell to Markelo on the edge of the box who struck well into the bottom corner.

Nathan Broadhead then cut inside from the left and planted a curling effort onto the crossbar.

Frankie Bunn’s side almost equalised as Tom Hamer found Miller with a quick throw, but the striker fluffed his lines before the ball fell to Christopher Missilou who saw his shot cleared off the line.

Everton capitalised on that missed opportunity as Markelo whipped in a ball from to Lavery who tapped into an empty net to double the visitors lead.

Miller then saw a shot cannon back off the post before Dummigan found Lang in the box, but he headed over.

The post foiled Latics again as Mohamed Maouche’s corner found Clarke, but the Captains headed was denied by the woodwork.

Daniel Iversen was forced into a decent save from Dennis Adeniran, before Dummigan forced a save from Everton goalkeeper Mateusz Hewelt.

Latics got themselves back into the game at the start of the second half as substitute Dan Gardner launched a freekick into the box which was flicked on by another substitute Benteke, but Clarke ended up bundling the ball into the net.

Bunn’s side were level five minutes later after Miller shrugged off the challenge of Morgan Feeney to slot home with Latics all over their opponents.

Gavero Nepomuceno and Benteke forced a save each out of Hewelt before Gardner curled a freekick just over the bar.

Clarke then saw another header from a corner cleared off the line before Everton created their first chances of the half.

Josh Bowler cut inside from the left and forced Iversen into a good stop before Harry Charsley made the Danish U21 International produce another fine stop.

Latics made Everton pay as a long ball was misjudged by goalkeeper Hewelt and Benteke squeezed it in from a tight angle to give Oldham the lead.

Everton looked for the equaliser, but Iversen denied Bowler once again as Latics progress to the next stage of the Checkatrade Trophy.

Attendance 1004 (39 Away)

Oldham Athletic

Iversen. Hamer, Clarke ©, Edmundson, Taylor, Dummigan, Maouche (Gardner 45’), Missilou, Nepomuceno, Miller (O’Grady 90+2’), Lang (Benteke 45’)

Everton U21

Hewelt, Browning, Charsley, Adediran, Sambou, Feeney ©, Broadhead, Markelo (Simms 75’), Gordon (Kiersey 58’), Lavery (Bowler 58’), John