CITY 1 OLDHAM 3

GIVE it a month and City and Oldham will be sick of the sight of each other.

Neither club has faced an opponent more often in their respective history anyway.

This was the 113th meeting between the two – and the first of three in three different competitions in the space of 32 days.

Oldham struck a psychological blow with victory at Valley Parade in the Papa John’s Trophy opener to their trilogy – maintaining their 100 per cent record to top the group.

City have now lost all five of their games against the Latics in the Trophy's various guises.

It meant they also missed out on reaching the knock-out rounds as Wolves under-21s took second spot thanks to a double from Portuguese new boy Fabio Silva at Doncaster – a snip at just £35 million.

But the much-changed line-ups meant there were few pointers for either Stuart McCall or Oldham boss Harry Kewell for when the clubs reconvene in the FA Cup.

Paudie O’Connor was the only one of City’s starters from Tonbridge – and he was replaced at half-time by Reece Staunton.

O’Connor made up the four with sufficient appearances to meet the selection criteria. They also included Levi Sutton, clear to play in the competition despite having one more game of his current ban to serve.

But with McCall determined not to risk overextending limbs already feeling the wear and tear of such a relentless run of games, the rest of his seniors were given a rare Tuesday night off.

It was another big chance for the youngsters to press their claims and once more they showed some promising glimpses.

But the Bantams were soon trailing.

George Blackwood had already brought an early save from Sam Hornby before Oldham went ahead on seven minutes.

Danny Rowe controlled a high ball and his pass on the turn sent Davis Keillor-Dunn striding through to slot past the keeper.

City had once again fallen behind to the opening goal at home - and it was another which raised questions defensively at how easily Rowe had bypassed O'Connor in the lead-up.

Sutton responded with a fierce drive that was beaten away by Oldham keeper Ian Lawlor.

As the game continued to open up, Ben Richards-Everton and Finn Cousin-Dawson got in each other’s way, allowing Rowe’s cross to reach Callum Whelan but Hornby held his shot.

Connor Shanks and Dylan Mottley-Henry, City’s makeshift front two, then both forced Lawlor into action.

But the hosts escaped when Blackwood half-volleyed past the far post with time to pick his spot.

Hornby came to City’s rescue five minutes before the break, turning Callum Whelan’s shot over the bar with a strong right arm after the Oldham midfielder had nicked the ball off Cousin-Dawson.

Sutton added to his card tally with a robust challenge that produced varying vocal responses on the touchline.

Dylan Bahamboula shot into the City side-netting before Hornby produced another fine save to tip over the bar from Keillor-Dunn.

The keeper’s intervention looked even more vital when City levelled on the hour. Tyler French drilled in a fierce cross that teenage debutant Will Sutton could only divert into his own net.

Lifted by the leveller, City came close to a quickfire second as Cousin-Dawson’s header rattled the bar after being set up by Jorge Sikora.

City pressed hard as the clock ticked and Lawlor just managed to hook a quick free-kick away from the incoming Mottley-Henry.

Youth team skipper Charlie Wood and fellow scholar Olivier Sukiennicki got their big chance from the bench late on.

But City’s fate was sealed as Alfie McCalmont, on loan from Leeds, struck twice in the closing moments as the home side left gaps pushing forward.

The first, with five minutes left, was a fine finish with the outside of his boot into the top corner.

Mottley-Henry, still looking to break his duck, blazed over with a big chance to equalise before McCalmont struck again in stoppage time after City were caught upfield.

Until next time – back here in the FA Cup later this month.

CITY: Hornby 8, Sikora 7, P O’Connor 6 (Staunton 46min, 6), Richards-Everton 6, French 6, Sutton 5 (Sukiennicki 81), Cousin-Dawson 6, Scales 7, Longridge 6, Shanks 7 (Wood 81min), Mottley-Henry 6. Sub (not used): O’Donnell.

OLDHAM: Lawlor 7, Hamer 6, Diarra 7 (Jameson 72min), Sutton 6, Jombati 6, McCalmont 8, Whelan 6, Keillor-Dunn 7, Bamanboula 7 (Da Silva 61min), Rowe 6, Blackwood 5 (Garrity 72min). Subs (not used): Chapman, Grant, Fage, Hough.

CITY MAN OF MATCH: Sam Hornby