Scunthorpe United 2-1 Oldham Athletic
Report from Glanford Park

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Scunthorpe registered a 2-1 Carling Cup first round victory over Oldham Athletic at Glanford Park on Tuesday night.

Oldham took the lead midway through the first half through Djeny Bembo-Leta, but United hit back in the second half as Jonathan Forte and Martyn Woolford scored to seal their passage into round two.

The draw for the next stage, which takes place in a fortnight, will be made on Wednesday night after the remaining first round matches.

The Iron made four changes heading into the match with Paul Dickov's side.

Joe Murphy and Eddie Nolan missed out because they were on international duty with the Republic of Ireland senior and U21 sides respectively.

Sam Slocombe deputised for Murphy for his full debut, while Cliff Byrne returned from a hip injury to replace Nolan.

Elsewhere, David Mirfin missed out with a minor shoulder injury, so Michael Raynes deputised, and Sam Togwell was rested so Woolford came in.

Slocombe was in goal, with Byrne, Raynes, Rob Jones and Jim McNulty forming the defence.

The midfield consisted of Garry Thompson, Josh Wright, Michael O'Connor and Woolford, while Forte partnered Chris Dagnall in attack.

Second year trainee goalkeeper Jake Turner featured on the substitutes' bench, with Andrew Wright, Sam Togwell, Bobby Grant, Michael Collins, Niall Canavan and trialist Trent McClenahan also there.

Scunthorpe got off to a decent start on a bright, summer's night at Glanford Park, and Forte had the first chance seven minutes in, showing an electric turn of pace before drilling goalwards a low shot, which Dean Brill did well to stop at point blank range.

Jonathan Forte sees his early effort saved by Dean Brill.

Forte, continuing the fine form shown in Saturday's 2-1 win at Reading, came close again five minutes later, emerging down the left-hand side of the 18-yard box before drilling in a low shot which Brill tipped wide at his near post.

The Latics, against the run of play, went ahead in the 23rd minute when Bembo-Leta headed home from ten yards after a cross from the right by former Hartlepool man Ritchie Jones.

United tried to force their way back into the game, and Forte took a tumble under a challenge after latching on to Slocombe's long ball but referee Steve Rushton gave nothing.

Just before the break, Togwell came on for Josh Wright, who looked like he was struggling with his hamstring as he came off.

It was a game of few chances, but Dagnall fizzed one just wide of goal just after the break as the game became a little scrappy.

They started to attack more as the second half wore on, and on 65 minutes Forte levelled the scores when he was played through and clipped the ball past the onrushing Brill with a composed finish for his first goal of the campaign..

Jonathan Forte clips his side level.

Five minutes later, his persistance almost paid off again as he burst down the left to chase a loose ball and flash a shot goalwards which was tipped wide by Brill.

Then, from the subsequent corner, Woolford dragged wide from O'Connor's delivery.

The Latics were still in the game as an attacking force, and Bembo-Leta's free-kick from the left-angle of the area swept through the Iron wall and bounced back into play off Slocombe's left-hand post.

The second Scunthorpe change came eight minutes from the end as Collins replaced O'Connor, and Woolford scored immediately after - striking home from the edge of the area and low into Brill's bottom right-hand corner after good work by Dagnall, who was challenged on the edge of the area, and the ball became loose as a result for the ex-York man to sweep home.

Martyn Woolford crashes his team's winner into the back of the net.

United managed to hold on, with Grant coming on for Dagnall late on, and make it two wins from two so far this season.

However, there was some late drama as Togwell was dismissed for his second yellow card of the game, as he was judged to timewaste by kicking the ball away. As a result, he misses the next match.

Nigel Adkins' side are next in action on Saturday when they host Norwich City in the Championship.

Attendance: 2,602 (273 away).