Oldham Athletic 2 Stoke City 1

Last updated : 24 August 2004 By Footymad Previewer

League one side Oldham hit two goals in four minutes to dump ten-man Stoke out of the Carling Cup in the first round.

In a game marred by refereeing controversy Stoke, who are unbeaten in the Championship, went ahead through Carl Asaba.

But Wayne Thomas was sent off for a second booking and Oldham took advantage through David Eyres and John Eyre, the latter scoring from a hotly disputed penalty on 76 minutes.

Thomas collected his first yellow midway through the first half for leading with his elbow in a tackle on Chris Killen, but Stoke soon went ahead after the centre-back fed Asaba.

Asaba turned his man 25 yards out and advanced into the box before blasting high past keeper Les Pogliacomi.

Oldham almost levelled instantly when Killen rattled the bar with a 25-yard drive, but the visitors almost doubled their lead moments after half-time when Karl Henry fired narrowly over.

Thomas saw red after 59 minutes when he ran back after a corner but caught Pogliacomi as he passed, referee Trevor Parkes deemed it deliberate and Stoke went down to ten men.

The dismissal was a big lift to Oldham, who sprung to life and equalised after 72 minutes when defender David Beharall crossed for Eyres to nod home from six yards.

Referee Parkes was back in the thick of it when he awarded a penalty for hand-ball after Clint Hill blocked a shot by Jermaine Johnson.

Oldham midfielder Eyre sent keeper Steve Simonsen the wrong way to complete the comeback.

Stoke weren't out of it and they should have equalised on 83 minutes through substitute Gifton Noel-Williams.

The big striker was given a free header eight yards out, only to get his bearings totally wrong and almost hit the corner flag.

There was also a half chance for ex-Oldham man Hill, but the underdogs managed to hold out.