Latics 3-1 Northampton Town

Latics secured their place in Round Two of the FA Cup after beating League One side Northampton Town 3-1 at home.

It couldn’t have been a better start; Michael Mellon got his first of three when a half clearance from the Northampton defence fell invitingly to the striker and his overhead kick found its way into the back of the net.

Straight from the next attack, the striker was in on goal once again, he managed to maintain composure and chip his effort over Ross Fitzsimons and double his tally.

His hat-trick was completed five minutes into the second period, Oli Hammond found space down the right-hand side and slipped in Mellon who made no mistake in tapping into an empty net.

The visitors did pull a consolation back late in the game with Cameron McGeehan firing home at the back post, but it was Latics’ day and it’s into the Second Round!

It was a dream start, Tom Pett's looping cross was half headed away from Jordan Thorniley and Mellon patiently waited for the ball to drop and scored acrobatically to put Latics one up.

And it got even better just two minutes later, Mellon once again was slipped through on goal, and he managed to keep his cool to dink his effort over Fitzsimons and into the back of the net.

The pressure was all coming from Latics, Mellon was looking lively and on 20 minutes he managed to get away down the right-hand side and forced Fitzsimons to parry, Luke Hannant then had a go on the rebound, but the goalkeeper managed to gather second time round.

The visitors first opening of the game came on 25 minutes, Michael Forbes headed narrowly wide from a corner from the left-hand side.

But after this Latics continued in their ascendency, full-back Jake Caprice made space down the right and crossed first time into a dangerous area, Joe Garner was there but the cross had too much pace on it and the striker couldn't quite get clean contact.

Latics restricted their visitors to minimal opportunities, the closest the Cobblers came was towards the end of the half was when Kyle Edwards received the ball on the right and tried to cut back for Ethan Wheatley, but Manny Monthe was alert and cleared his lines.

The visitors started the half better, a long throw-in bounced across the face of the Latics goal and came to substitute Kamari Swyer at the far post, but he fired wide.

However, it was Latics who dealt the next blow when they made it three on 50 minutes. 

Michael Mellon completing his hat-trick, Oli Hammond was set free down the right and played the ball through to Mellon who was in acres of space, and he tapped into an empty net to complete his hat-trick!

The Cobblers tried to find roads to get back into the game, Tyrese Fornah on 55 minutes drove at Caprice and tried to slip in Swyer to shoot, but the full-back slid in and cleared the danger.

It was very much half chances for the visitors with Latics standing tall to try and defend their clean sheet.

Mellon was still looking for more, on 70 minutes Caprice's high ball was onto the striker's head who nodded at goal, but his effort was straight at Fitzsimons.

In the last 10, the hosts carried on trying to find a way through, Sywer's cross from the right had Hudson worried, but luckily it was wide of the post.

It could have been four at the other end though, Jamie Robson's fierce strike at goal was heading into the back of the net, but the ball was parried well by Fitzsimons. 

The visitors managed to pull one back late on just before additional time. Cameron McGeehan was at the back post to tap home after the ball came across the face of goal to him.

But after a further nine minutes of additional time the referee sounded his whistle to book Latics’ place in Round Two!

Oldham Athletic: Hudson, Caprice, Robson, Monthe, Daniels (Sutton 84), Hannant, Woods (Payne 59), Pett, Hammond (Quigley 84), Mellon (Fondop 72), Garner (Drummond 72).

Subs not used: Donaghy, Leake, Hawkes, Harratt.

Northampton Town: Fitzsimons, Willis (Fornah 46), McGeehan, Guinness-Walker (List 68), Thorniley, Jacobs (Swyer 46), Forbes, Wheatley, Perkins, Edwards (Eaves 64), Taylor.

Subs not used: Burge, Guthrie, Avery, Tomlinson

Referee: Peter Wright

Attendance: 3,693 (515)