Former Premier League side back in EFL after scoring twice in two minutes in dramatic National League play-off final

OLDHAM are back from the brink – fired to the Football League by a wonder goal and a huge blunder.

An extraordinary extra time escape act sent Micky Mellon’s men back to League Two in front of chief executive Darren Royle – son of legendary ex-manager Joe.

Oldham are back in the Football League after beating Southend 3-2Shutterstock Editorial

Getty

A dramatic National League final saw the Lactics go behind twice before winning in extra time[/caption]

Four years after coffins were carried outside Boundary Park to mark the death of the club and three years since owner Frank Rothwell stepped in as the saviour, they are alive and kicking again.

All thanks to two goals in two staggering extra-time minutes.

The Latics were behind five minutes after kick-off, then behind again 39 seconds into extra time.

But a Premier League quality finish from James Norwood and Kian Harratt’s bizarre winner helped down Southend.

Oldham finished five points clear of Southend in the table and had sailed through the play-offs without conceding a single goal.

Their opponents, however, had scraped into the play-off places and needed extra time and then penalties to reach this final.

But it was Mellon’s side who made a frantic start under the arch.

Having been so water-tight in the two games to reach Wembley, it was a surprise to see Oldham so ragged inside five minutes.

BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS

Southend’s Charley Kendall raced onto a clipped ball over the top, unsettling Monthe to the extent he swung a leg and lifted the ball over his own goalkeeper.

Oldham responded well to the nightmare start and should have been level just over 10 minutes later, when Vimal Yoganathan headed inexplicably wide from two yards at the far post.

Reuters

Southend took the lead after just FIVE minutes[/caption]

Shutterstock Editorial

Oldham eventually pegged them back through Joe Garner’s 48th minute penalty[/caption]

Striker Mike Fondop erupted at his teammate for taking the chance away from him and wasting it, but was just as guilty later in the half.

Fondop, who should have been awarded a penalty earlier in the half, raced through one-on-one and decided to dink over the keeper but placed the ball just wide.

Oldham had scored seven goals in two play-off games before the final, but were so wasteful across a frustrating first half.

That was swiftly corrected after the break.

Shutterstock Editorial

Southend regained the lead in extra time through Leon Chambers-Parillon[/caption]

PA

James Norwood’s top strike pulled Oldham back into the game in the 110th minute[/caption]

Monthe, making amends for his own-goal, was hauled to the ground by Ben Goodliffe inside the six-yard box within a minute of the restart.

Referee Elliot Bell immediately pointed to the spot and veteran Garner slotted home from the spot to make it three goals in three play-off games.

Having endured nine minutes of stoppage time at the end of the second half, Southend struck just 39 seconds into extra time.

Keeper Mathew Hudson flapped at a deflected cross from Gus Scott-Morriss, palming it straight to substitute Parillon to nod home.

PA

Kian Harratt then put Oldham ahead for the first time just two minutes later[/caption]

Getty

It proved to be the winning goal as Oldham cemented their spot back in League Two[/caption]

That looked to have started a Southend party, though they wasted chances to extend their lead before the Latics struck.

Substitute Norwood collected a hopeful punt before showing off some staggering footwork, lifting the ball over advancing keeper Hayes and finishing into an empty net.

The winner was even more surprising as Harratt cut in on the right and swung in a low cross which evaded everyone in red and rolled in.

A galling way for Southend’s own redemption story to hit the buffers, but the most ridiculous route back to League Two for Oldham.