Accrington’s forwards take their chance to delight John Doolan

Accrington boss John Doolan took satisfaction from the fact his three forwards scored in their 3-1 Carabao Cup preliminary-round win over Oldham.

Teenager Anjola Popoola opened the scoring after 10 minutes, Kelsey Mooney tapped in the second seven minutes later and Josh Woods rifled home from distance to make it 3-0 with 11 minutes of the first half still to play.

Reagan Ogle’s deflected 62nd-minute effort got one back for Oldham but it is Stanley who will face Peterborough in the first round.

Doolan said: “I am very pleased. We made a lot of changes from Saturday but they know how to play, the structure, and to come in it and execute it, I am really proud.

“They got their opportunity and have shown what they can do.

“The first goal was massive and it was satisfying for all three forwards to get on the scoresheet, it’s great for them all.”

Latics manager Micky Mellon was frustrated with his side’s first-half display.

He said: “I am really disappointed. I just never saw that coming.

“We did not compete, we did not win enough of the League Two necessary stuff. You need to win the aerial battles and the knock downs and we need to do better on the goals. They were shocking.

“We did more in the second half, we looked livelier, but it was too late.

“We did leave out characters that drive our performance but want players to come in and show they want to fight, scrap and play in a successful Oldham team.”