Oldham Athletic beat Liverpool U21’s 3-2 in the first game of the Leasing.com Trophy at Boundary Park.
It only took four minutes for Liverpool U21’s to take the lead when Alex Iacovitti headed the initial cross away but it landed to Neco Williams who produced a wonderful volley into the top corner.
Straight after Bobby Duncan nearly doubled the visitors lead but Gregor Zabret pulled off a smart save to deny the forward.
Oldham’s first chance of the game occurred when Gevaro Nepomuceno’s corner found Iacovitti’s head but it was straight at Daniel Atherton in the Liverpool goal.
Nepomuceno nearly equalised for the hosts after a mistake by Atherton. The winger chipped the ball over the goalkeeper but a Liverpool defender was there to clear it off the line.
Latics should have been level from the resulting corner when Atherton missed the catch, but Desire Segbe Azankpo could only head wide of the open goal.
Curtis Jones tried his luck from outside the box for the Reds and his curling effort hit the post and the danger was cleared.
Oldham found in the equaliser in the 21st minute after Latics won the ball back high up the field which meant that Azankpo was clean through on goal. He stayed composed and lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
On the 29th minute, Latics then went ahead when Chris Eagles crossed his free-kick from out wide into the box and Iacovitti towered above his man and headed into the bottom left corner.
Just before half-time the visitors equalised, Zabret did well to save Jones’ effort but he palmed it out to Elliot Harvey who tapped it into an empty net.
Early into the second half, Nepomuceno whipped a dangerous cross into the box and it found Eagles but his shot was saved.
Latics found the winner in the 81st minute from a Nepomuceno corner, Jamie Stott headed the ball into the back of the net and sealed the win.
Oldham Athletic (Azankpo 21’, Iacovitti 29’, Stott 81') 3-2 Liverpool U21’s (Williams 4’, Elliot 44’).
Attendance: 1,522 (Away 183).
Oldham Athletic – Zabret, Hamer, Stott, Iacovitti, Smith-Brown, Fage, Sylla, Nepomuceno, Azankpo (Gonzales 45’), Eagles (Adams 69’), Vera (Dolan 75’).
Subs – Allen, Jones, Dolan, Gonzales, Adams, Robinson, Swaby-Neavin.
Liverpool U21’s – Atherton, Lewis, Jones, Duncan, Christie-Davies (Dixon-Bonner 51’), Elliot (Jack Bearne 66’), Chirivella, Larouci, Van Den Berg, Boyes, Williams.
Subs – Winterbottom, Varesanovic, Gallacher, Clayton, Dixon-Bonner, Bearne.