Spot-kick woe for Rochdale

Lee Hughes fired the decisive spot kick as Oldham beat neighbours Rochdale on penalties at Spotland.

Hughes fires Oldham to second round of Carling Cup

Lee Hughes fired the decisive spot kick as Oldham beat neighbours Rochdale on penalties at Spotland. The visitors, down to 10 men following Craig Davies' dismissal in the 44th minute, held on for a goalless draw after 120 minutes of an entertaining tie. Oldham started the game well and had a great chance to take the lead when referee Colin Webster awarded a penalty to the visitors after Rory McArdle's foul on Dean Smalley. Hughes opted for power from the spot but Sam Russell beat away the kick. Rochdale went close when Tom Kennedy's 20-yard freekick was saved by Mark Crossley, the goalkeeper at full stretch in palming the ball to safety. John Sheridan's team were down to 10 men on the stroke of half time when Craig Davies saw red for an attempted headbutt on Nathan Stanton. Danny Whittaker hit a 25-yard shot on target in the first half of extra time, Russell palming the ball over the crossbar. But in the end Oldham's fortunes from the penalty spot won the day.