It's dreamland at Wembley as Latics seal dramatic promotion-clinching victory

Latics are back in the Football League after winning 3-2 in dramatic fashion at Wembley in the National League play-off final when they scored two goals in the second half of extra-time.

Latics, spurred on by 25,000 fans out of the record crowd of 52,115 went into the game unchanged for the third successive match and fell behind in the fifth minute when Charley Kendall took advantage of hesitation at the back to knock the ball via Manny Monthe past the advancing Matt Hudson.

It took 15 minutes for Latics to find their rhythm and have their first effort, Mike Fondop heading wide Tom Pett’s left wing corner.

On 17 minutes Latics had a great chance when Mark Kitching broke down the left and fired in a pinpoint cross which Yoganathan headed wide.

Southend came back with Hopper producing a simple safe for Hudson.

On the half hour Fondop was again involved in the action as his low shot was wide of the Southend post.

As half time approached Oldham were getting greater possession in the Shrimpers half, but the Essex side defended valiantly before Joe Garner headed against the outside of the post

Five minutes before half time Fondop had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down by referee Elliott Bell after appearing to be upended, one of a number of first half decisions which did not go Latics way

Latics should have equalised in the 44th minute after the ball landed fortuitously to Fondop with only Nick Hayes to beat.

His dink over the keeper looked to be heading goalwards but fell agonisingly wide.

Three minutes after the break Joe Garner levelled from the penalty spot after Monthe was brought down – scoring for the third successive play-off game.

It was Latics' first goal Wembley in normal time in their history.

Southend seemed to spring to life after the equaliser requiring some resolute defending from Oldham for the first time in the match.

After 62 minutes Fondop had another glorious chance to score when the ball fell kindly to the striker 10 years out, but the Cameroonian’s shot was palmed away by Hayes.

Jes Uchegbulam replaced Joe Pritchard in midfield midway through the second half as Latics looked to press for a second goal.

James Norwood became the second Oldham sub, with goal scorer Garner making way.

And with six minutes of normal time remaining club captain Tom Conlon came on for the industrious Yoganathan.

A tame header from Goodcliffe was gathered safely by Hudson and nerves were visible from both sets of fans as the 90-minute mark approached with Scott Morris’s 25 yard shot saved acrobatically by Hudson.

With nine minutes of additional time added the tension grew even more, Mark Kitching’s low shot just whistling past Hayes’s left hand post .

Then in the fifth minute of into stoppage time a Fondop header found Norwood in space, but the veteran striker missed his shot with the goal and potential glory beckoning.

And so, to extra time, and 49 seconds into the restart a header from Southend substitute Leon Parrillon after Hudson could only partially clear a Scott Morris cross from the right saw Southend regain the lead.

Hobson came on for Kitching before Raglan headed over Pett’s corner as Latics strove for another equaliser.

Striker Kieran Harratt was sent on in place of Corry Evans as manager Micky Mellon tried to rescue the final, Hudson dived at the feet to prevent Southend substitute Bonne capitalising on a breakaway.

As the game went into the second period of extra time further drama was to unfold.

First Norwood rounded the keeper on 110 minutes to level the scores again, and within two minutes Latics took the lead for the first time in the match when a cross-shot from Kieran Harratt found its way into the net.

REACTION from boss Mellon to follow.

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