Latics through to tonight's Cup second round draw

Oldham Athletic

Latics are through to a place in the FA Cup second round after earning a 2 -1 win over National League North side Gateshead.

Dino Maamria's side's fortunes are now starting to turn around as they are now unbeaten in four matches.

Jonny Smith's late curling strike clinched the win. 

The League Two Latics went in front against the run of play when Filipe Morais nodded in at the back post after the hosts failed to clear a looping throw into the box.

However, Gateshead were undaunted and belied the gap between the two clubs when they clawed level in the second half, thanks to a precisely-placed daisy-cutter from Liam Agnew, which squeezed inside Zeus de la Paz's right-hand post.

It was the only blot on De la Paz's copybook as he provided a vital barrier as the hosts pressed for a winner, most notably tipping Scott Barrow's fierce drive around the post.

Oldham had to wait for their chance to win it, but they took it when Smith cut in on the right edge of the box and bent his shot around Brad James into the far corner to seal the win and deny the Tynesiders a replay.

The £36,000 reward for reaching round two was a tangible carrot for both teams, who have been through their respective hardships off the field in recent times.

Gateshead, were demoted from the National League for breaches of league membership code under their previous owners at the end of last season.

But Oldham, two-time semi-finalists as recently as their 1990s heyday, took the spoils and put some precious funds into their coffers - just over a year since players threatened to strike over unpaid wages.

The televised draw for the Cup second round takes place tonight (Monday) just after 7pm.

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