Latics progressed into the last 16 of the Papa John’s Trophy with an impressive 1-0 win over Sky Bet League One opposition Sunderland.
Harry Vaughan scored the only goal of the game and Oldham’s defence coped well against the higher division side.
Selim Benachour made seven changes to the side that lost at Salford City which included youngsters Vaughan and Benny Couto being given a chance from the start.
Latics made a solid start to proceedings on Wearside but it was the hosts who had the first real chance of the game in the 13th minute, Benji Kipioka was threaded through and his pace was too much for Jordan Clarke to deal with who lost his footing but the Sunderland striker could only hit the side netting.
In the 23rd minute, Oldham won their first corner of the game after good play by Jack Stobbs and Nicky Adams. Piergianni did well to get on the delivery but unfortunately, his effort was blocked.
Their good spell continued with Hallam Hope having Latics’ first shot on target just moments later after being picked out by a ball over the top.
It wasn’t too much longer for the blues to wait before they got another set-piece attempt, Piergianni was again the target, he headed the ball downwards, but nobody was on hand to turn the ball home.
The Black Cats showed some attacking intent of their own in the 35th minute, fortunately for Oldham, it resulted in nothing with Will Harris firing wide from outside the box.
A few minutes later saw more warning signs from the third-tier side as the electric pace of Kimpioka again gave Latics problems, this time he slid in Harris who rounded the keeper and would have given his side the lead if it hadn’t been for a block by Clarke.
The 41st minute saw Oldham’s best chance of the opening 45 minutes, Vaughan slid through a perfectly timed ball to Jack Stobbs who took it one on one with Lee Burge but unfortunately his shot went narrowly wide of the goal.
Latics got off to a good start in the second half too and had the first chance; Nicky Adams’ cross found Couto at the back post, but the 18-year old’s volley didn’t trouble the Sunderland stopper.
Oldham got the goal that their play deserved through Vaughan. Latics countered from a Sunderland corner and the 18-year old disposed the Sunderland defender and showed real composure in the finish one on one.
As you would expect Sunderland did the majority of the attacking in the game following Oldham’s goal and it took a brilliant stop from Jayson Leutwiler in the 73rd minute to prevent an equaliser, Cieran Dunne burst through into the box ad hit his shot well but Latics’ ‘keeper was equal to it.
Nicky Adams stung the gloves of Burge in the Sunderland net in the 84th minute as Latics looked for a second, this came moments after substitute Dylan Bahamboula had showcased his trickery, giving the hosts’ defence a problem.
Latics managed to hold on against the holders of the competition, securing qualification to the next round.
Oldham Athletic: Leutwiler, Clarke, Cisse (Hopcutt 80), Piergianni, Adams, Whelan (Bowden 80), Hope (Bahamboula 80), Keillor-Dunn, Stobbs (Dearnley 58), Couto, Vaughan (Diarra 64).
Subs not used: Southerington, McGahey.
Sunderland: Burge, Alves, Dajaki (Kachosa 46), Embleton (Wearne 46), O’Brien, Xhemaji, Younger, Dunn (Dyce 73), Harris, Wilding, Kimpioka.
Subs not used: Carney, Almond, Scott, Johnson.
Referee: Tom Reeves
Attendance: 3,498 (253 away)