No split loyalties as Richie runs riot
KEITH Curle believes the “magic” of the FA Cup is alive and kicking after Carlisle reversed their wretched home form to turn the tables on Oldham.
Striker Richie Bennett scored twice against the side he supports and played at as a schoolboy, and Hallam Hope grabbed his sixth of the season as the Cumbrians established a shock lead against their previously inform opponents.
Peter Clarke and Aaron Amadi-Holloway reduced the arrears but for Curle, it was a job well done after ending a run of eight games at Brunton Park without a win.
“It shows that the beauty of the FA Cup is still alive,” Curle said. “Everything was stacked against us if you looked at the run of games and victories Oldham had been on.
“The money some of their players on loan are on is considerable for the division they are in, so add that to the fact we haven’t been as successful as we have needed to be on our own patch this season, everything was made for a fantastic cup tie.
“We knew they could cause us problems but likewise, we felt there were areas we could exploit, with set-pieces being one of those, definitely.”
Oldham’s Dan Gardner hit the crossbar and Craig Davies had a shot well-saved before Bennett struck from close range, nodding in from a corner kick.
Hope struck a superb half-volley home from the edge of the area and after Paul Green and Queensy Menig had gone close for Oldham, Bennett got his second with another header from Reggie Lambe’s right-flank cross.
Clarke pulled one back with a header from Cameron Dummigan’s centre and substitute Amadi-Holloway slammed in a rebound, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Richie Wellens suffering a second straight defeat as Oldham boss.
“I am massively disappointed,” said Wellens. “It is a real tough one. You can’t criticise the players for their attitude, which was spoton. In the first 20 minutes, there was one team in it and we missed chance after chance.
“We hit the crossbar and their goalkeeper made good saves.
“When a lower-league team wins a tie like this, they have to have an unbelievable day, while we have an off-day, or we miss chances and their goalkeeper has a ‘worldie’.
“We should have been two or three goals up before they scored but again, we had to go behind before we really started attacking their box.”