Stock City beat Oldham 2-0 in the League Cup Round of 128 on Friday evening. The hosts advanced to the next stage with a result that reflected their control throughout. Oldham's campaign came to an end at this stage of the competition.
The breakthrough came from an unexpected direction when O. Norburn turned the ball into his own net in the forty-eighth minute. Stock City held on to their advantage and added a second when R. Bozenik found the back of the net in the eighty-second minute. The goal settled any uncertainty about the outcome.
Discipline was tested between the sides. B. Lawal and R. Delaney received yellow cards in the first half, while Bae Jun-Ho was cautioned after the break. Oldham made three changes in the closing stages, bringing on M. Fondop-Talum, O. Norburn and B. Lawal. Stock City added T. Pett, E. Galbraith and S. Gallagher to their lineup during the match.
Stock City dominated possession at 59 per cent and created more clear-cut opportunities. They registered four big chances against Oldham's three, while their expected goals total of 1.59 was higher than the visitors' 0.95. Oldham showed better shot accuracy at 44 per cent, but could not convert their efforts into goals.
The result extends Stock City's recent run of unbroken form. They have won two of their last five matches and drawn two, with only one defeat to show. Oldham's four-goal victory over Sheffield Wednesday on their previous outing did not translate into a positive result here.