QUICKFIRE DOUBLE KO'S BRAVE SHRIMPERS AT THE DEATH

TWO goals in two breathless minutes saw Oldham Athletic turn around an extra-time deficit to head back to the EFL with victory over Southend United at Wembley.

- Andy Mitchell

The Latics recovered from early blows in both first halves as substitutes James Norwood and Kian Harratt sparked scenes of jubilation right in front of their fans.

There were ten minutes to go in extra-time when Norwood levelled, dashing onto Manny Monthe’s raking ball over the top to coolly round Nick Hayes, before Harratt’s cross for Mike Fondop swirled inside the far post before anyone — on the pitch or in the stands - had the chance to get their heads around the equaliser.

Monthe had been in the thick of the action all day, nudging past his own keeper Mathew Hudson five minutes in.

While there was an ebb and flow to the game, Oldham had spurned all the chances either side of Joe Garner’s penalty early in the second half, awarded after Monthe had been hauled down.

Southend then landed another swift blow, Leon Parillon nodding into a gaping net after Gus Scott-Morriss’s looping cross-shot had been awkwardly parried into the danger zone 38 seconds into the extra 30 minutes but Oldham replicated that spirit to claim what was a warranted victory across a non-stop two hours that befitted the game’s fine setting.

THE ACTION

Oldham made a boisterous start, Vimal Yoganathan wriggling past his man on the right but overcooking the cross before the Shrimpers landed a huge blow with their first proper swing.

Scott-Morriss lifted a ball towards the box from the halfway line and harassment from Charley Kendall lured Monthe into stretching for a touch that dinked the ball past Hudson as he came off his line, the ball agonisingly trickling into the empty net.