Oldham Athletic 3 Wrexham 5

Last updated : 16 February 2005 By Dave Moore

Athletic suffered their fifth defeat in a row in a bizarre encounter at home to Wrexham in the LDV northern final match, first leg. In an unbeilevable game they went 1-5 down before fighting back to a final score of 3-5. Scott Vernon got two goals, his second a penalty, and David Eyres got the third but a hat-trick from Ugarte for Wrexham gave the Latics an uphill task to reach the Millenium Stadium in the final.

After the game, Brian Talbot told the official website, “The defending was unbelievable. Whatever players you pick, it doesn't really matter. If you defend like that, you're going to lose games of football. To score 3 at home and lose 5-3, it's just unbelievable. I suppose they took their foot off the pedal. It was maybe a bit easier for them when they were 5-1 up. They think obviously they've won the game. They have won the game but I suppose they relaxed a bit so you could say that that was understandable for them. But there's no excuses for us. Whatever system you play, whatever players you play, if they're going to cut through you like that, I think you're going to lose games.”

“They said it wasn't a penalty. I didn't know if it was a penalty or not. I couldn't see. Sometimes you get away with them, sometimes you don't but I think we're clutching at straws. I don't think the tie's over, we've got a slight glimmer of hope. Obviously it if had been 5-1 then it would have been over. When it was 5-1 you thought the worst. It's still not good by a long stretch of the imagination. 5-3 at home is a poor result. You've got to go away and win 3-0 and it's a tall order but who would have thought it would have been 5-3 tonight.”