Oldham fight back to continue FA Cup fairytale against Everton

Oldham forced a replay against Everton with an added-time equaliser at Boundary Park in another sensational FA Cup tie.

Goals from Victor Anichebe and Phil Jagielka looked to be enough to cancel out Jordan Obita’s opener and see the Toffees safely through to the quarter-finals, but substitute Matt Smith – hero of Oldham’s victory over Liverpool in the last round – pounced with an added time equaliser.

Oldham were forced to soak up a lot of pressure in the opening stages, but it was the hosts who opened the scoring after 13 minutes at Boundary Park through Obita.

Lee Croft got the better of Leon Osman on the half-way line before racing down the right-hand touchline and crossing for Obita – on an emergency loan from Reading – who tapped home past Tim Howard.

But the Toffees were behind for just 11 minutes, as Anichebe collected Nikica Jelavic’s header and fired his side level.

Obita was millimetres away from reinstating Oldham’s lead a minute later, but his shot was deflected off Marouane Fellaini and onto the post.

Oldham, whose players were with their Everton counterparts due to financial problems, kept the visitors at bay for the remainder of the half, but Everton took the lead just three minutes after the break as Jagielka headed home from a corner.

Clear-cut chances were few and far between for most of the second-half, but Howard had to be on alert to save from substitute Matt Smith with 10 minutes to play, as the hosts began to find a second wind.

And it was Howard again who denied Robbie Simpson in the dying stages of the game, after the striker found himself clear of the Toffees defence but there was no way past the American goalkeeper, as Everton looked to have held on to book their place in the sixth round.

But Smith had other ideas and a succession of Oldham corners ended with the giant centre-forward finally nodding the ball home to keep his side dreaming.