Oldham Athletic won 3-2 on penalties

Disappointment for the young Reds as they crashed out of the FA Youth Cup on penalties at Boundary Park in a hard fought encounter with Oldham Athletic.

The Latics has been reduced to 10-men just before the end of 90 minutes and more than coped with that disadvantage during extra time to take the game to spot kicks after the scores finished 1-1.

Oldham gave their visitors an early scare when from a corner the ball came out to the edge of the penalty box and midfielder Jack Fitzgerald hit a shot that crashed against the crossbar before the whistle went for an infringement as players chased the rebound.

The home side took the lead on 10 minutes when a swift break down the left saw winger Liam Dawson race into the Wrexham box and fire a rising shot across keeper Chris Maxwell and inside the far post.

Dawson tested Maxwell once again on 16 minutes with a 20-yard effort that the Wales U19 international palmed round the post for a corner.

From a Paul Williams corner on 28 minutes, the ball was knocked goalwards by centre half Chris Marriott, but striker Mark Stewart was unable to finish despite poaching inside the six-yard box.

Wrexham's best chance of the first half was created by Mark Stewart, who curled in a glorious effort from 22-yards, but he was left holding his head in disbelief as Latics stopper Josh Bell denied him with a diving save.

Coach Steve Cooper made one change at the interval, swapping left winger Luke Carden for starter Rob Pearson.

The Reds drew back onto level terms with a fine individual goal from Mark Stewart when he ran at the home defence before hammer a low effort passed Bell from the edge of the Oldham box.

Wrexham survived a moment on 54 minutes when Ross Thaker's shot took a wicked deflection off skipper Chris Marriott's heel and into the path of KC Owen, whose tight angled drive beat not only Maxwell but also the far post!

Two minutes the Reds conceded a free kick on the edge of their own area, but Maxwell was equal to Chris Rowney's set piece.

Sub Carden set up Stewart with a clear sight of goal on 58 minutes, sliding in a great defence splitting pass, but Bell stood up to the Wrexham striker and saved the shot.

A well worked Wrexham corner on 63 minutes saw the ball delivered to the back post where centre half Lee Jones had his initial shot saved by Bell and then crashed the follow up header onto a post.

Bell came to the rescue of his side once again on 71 minutes, when Mark Stewart beat the offside trap on the right flank and was alert enough to spot the run inside of him and played a lovely ball into the winger's path. The Irish youngster drove his effort low towards the bottom corner of the Oldham net, but the tall figure of the Latics' keeper was able to stick out a limb and turn the ball away.

It was then Maxwell's turn to keep Oldham out, when he saved at the feet of KC Owen, who had forced his way between two red-shirted defenders.

On 84 minutes, Aaron Chambers was shown a straight red card after a challenge on Kai Edwards, which the referee judged to have been over the top, although it did seem more than a little harsh on the centre half.

Although Edwards did try to play on, he was quickly subbed for Jamie Price and at the same time Oldham coach Tony Philliskirk found himself ordered to the stands for continuing his protests over the original decision.

Strangely enough, as Wrexham played the first period of extra time against 10-men, they seemed to lack the conviction that had shone through during the previous 45 minutes.

On several occasions they failed to push home promising moves which just seemed to peter out and this was giving Oldham renewed hope that they could at least hang on for penalties.

With no further goals, and little sign of any, the game went to spot kicks and Bell once again proved to be the hero, as he denied three Wrexham players to see his team through to the second round.

Wrexham: Chris Maxwell, Kai Edwards (Jamie Price 85), Jon Hunt, Lee Jones, Chris Marriott, Paul Williams, George Stewart, Mat Hurdman, Mark Head (Obi Anoruo 90), Mark Stewart, Rob Pearson (Luke Carden 46).
Subs: Tom Bainbridge, Jack Jones.

Referee: J Madine

Booked -
Oldham: Knight (71)
Wrexham: Price (118), Maxwell (120)