Oldham Athletic welcomed Everton to Boundary Park on Saturday looking to cause another upset in the FA Cup following their shock win over Liverpool in round four.
The evening started well for them as Jordan Obita gave them the lead, but Victor Anichebe fired the visitors level before the break.
Phil Jagielka then looked to have put Everton through to the quarter-finals, only for substitute Matt Smith to head home in the final seconds of injury time to earn Oldham a replay at Goodison Park.
Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report below to find out how the action unfolded.
Hello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of tonight's FA Cup fifth round encounter between Oldham Athletic and Everton at Boundary Park.
If you're late to the action, the FA Cup has already been up to its old tricks again this afternoon in the form of Blackburn Rovers's surprise 1-0 win at Arsenal. The Championship club are through to the quarter-finals thanks to their smash and grab triumph at the Emirates Stadium. Incredible stuff.
Elsewhere, Millwall saw off non-league opponents Luton Town 3-0 at Kenilworth Road and Barnsley booked their place in the last eight with a 3-1 victory at MK Dons.
Of course, Oldham Athletic are familiar with upsets in this competition as they defeated Liverpool 3-2 in the last round. There have been a few changes at the club since then - most notably the departure of manager Paul Dickov. Tony Philliskirk is currently in charge of the side in a caretaker role.
The Latics' route to the fifth round looks like this:
R1: Kidderminster 0-2 Oldham
R2: Oldham 3-1 Doncaster
R3: Nottingham Forest 2-3 Oldham
R4: Oldham 3-2 Liverpool
The last time that the League One side got this far was in 1994 when they made it all the way to the semi-finals. That year, Joe Royle's men eventually lost out on a place in the final to Manchester United after a reply. Those with a good memory will recall Mark Hughes's last-gasp equaliser in the first match at Wembley before eventual winners United ran out 4-1 victors in the replay at Maine Road.
Oldham: Bouzanis; Brown, Mvoto, Tarkowski, Grounds; Croft, Obita, Weslowski, Baxter; Iwelumo, Barnard
Everton: Howard; Neville, Baines, Jagielka, Distin; Osman, Pienaar, Gibson, Fellaini; Anichebe, Jelavic
Talk about not taking the opposition lightly. Everton boss David Moyes has named a very strong starting lineup indeed for tonight's match. Leighton Baines, Steven Pienaar, Marouane Fellaini and Nikica Jelavic all start.
In fact, the visitors have made just two changes in total to the side that lost to Manchester United last weekend as Jelavic and Sylvain Distin come in for Johnny Heitinga and Kevin Mirallas.
It was Heitinga who made sure of Everton's progress from the last round when he blasted in a stoppage-time winner to help the Toffees beat Bolton Wanderers 2-1 at the Reebok Stadium. The Dutch defender won't score too many more like that.
Here's how Everton got to round five of this year's competition:
R3: Cheltenham 1-5 Everton
R4: Bolton 1-2 Everton
Everton subs: Mucha, Heitinga, Oviedo, Mirallas, Naismith, Hitzlsperger, Duffy
Oldham subs: Cisak, Furman, Simpson, Matt Smith, Byrne, Millar, Winchester
Matt Smith, two-goal hero from Oldham's win against Liverpool, starts on the bench for tonight's match.
To highlight Oldham's current financial strictures, there is a sign in their changing room that reads: "Pleased be advised that due to a severe shortage of first team home shirts, players must not give away their kit following the conclusion of the Everton match."
If anything, that demonstrated what a decent cup run could mean to Oldham. Tonight's match is televised, but a place in the quarter-finals could be priceless for the League One outfit.
The last time that these two teams met was, coincidentally, in the FA Cup back in 2008. Oldham caused an upset that day with a 1-0 triumph at Goodison Park in the third round, but they were knocked out of the tournament in the very next round at home to Huddersfield Town.
Other than that, there has been little action between the two sides since the early 1990s when Oldham enjoyed a heady few years in the Premier League under Joe Royle.
Talking of the 1990s, here's some brief highlights of Everton's 1-0 win against Manchester United in the 1995 final:
Right, there's just under 15 minutes to go until this one gets underway. Who have you got down to win? Will Everton's class sine through or can Oldham cause yet another shock in this year of upsets?
If I were a betting man, I'd say that Oldham will give Everton a tough match but the Premier League club should come through - maybe by the odd goal.
Everton boss David Moyes on ITV: "They pass the ball well and they use the boys up front to their advantage. I'm mindful that if you don't do it right then you do get knocked out. We've got to be able to match what they do and hopefully the extra quality that we've got will pull us through."
Oldham caretaker manager Tony Philliskirk on ITV: "We need a lot of luck, we need to play to our max, Everton need to be a little below par. Hopefully we can have a bit of luck and get a result today. I told the players to go out there with no fear and to express themselves."
Here we go then, it'll be Everton to get this party started...
An early opening for Everton inside the opening minute, but Bouzanis comes off his line to gather the ball with Jelavic on the prowl.
It hasn't been the liveliest start, it must be said. I think many were predicting Oldham to get in the faces of Everton in the opening stages, but it's all been a bit tentative so far. Neville receives the ball out wide on the right, only for Bouzanis to gather easily.
Some good play from Oldham there as they create a little space for Obita down the left side. He puts in a deep cross, but it sails well out of play for a goal kick.
GOAL! OLDHAM 1-0 EVERTON (OBITA)
Would you believe it? Everton have a corner up the other end, but Oldham break quickly. Croft looks to have dragged his shot wide of goal only for Obita to tap it in at the back post to score his first goal for the club. Do we have another big upset on our hands?
Looking at the replays and it seemed like Obita could have been fractionally offside when Croft hit his shot.
That goal has certainly given the visitors a kick up the backside. They've woken up a bit now, but Oldham are still causing problems on the counter-attack.
GOAL! OLDHAM 1-1 EVERTON (ANICHEBE)
GOAL! OLDHAM 1-1 EVERTON (ANICHEBE)
BOOM! Pick that one out. Everton are level and it's a rocket from Anichebe. Jelavic does well to knock down Jagielka's angled long ball and his strike partner is there to smash the ball home from just inside the area.
OFF THE POST! Oldham come within inches of regaining the lead! Obita is in the thick of the action again as his curled effort comes back off the woodwork. Croft is there for the follow up, but the Everton defence manage to hack the ball away.
There was a minor bone of contention for Everton's equaliser with Oldham complaining that Anichebe fouled Mvoto to work himself the space to shoot. Looking at the replays and there's nothing really in it. If anything, Anichebe used his muscle honestly to his advantage.
Oldham have a free kick and it's former Toffee Jose Baxter who stands over it. However, his weak effort hits the wall. He could probably have done better there.
Howard had to be quick off his line there. The ball was pumped in for Barnard and took an awkward bounce in the box, but the American goalkeeper was nimble off his line to collect.
Jagielka, Osman and Anichebe are all involved in a neat move down the right side before Jagielka's misjudged cross falls into the arms of Bouzanis.
Both teams are resorting to pumping long ball upfield now. You can't blam Oldham for asking questions that way, but it's very unlike Everton.
SCRAMBLE! Fellaini comes close to putting Everton in front. The Belgian heads a corner towards goal and it's Tarkowski who's there to control the ball on the six yard box before clearing. The visitors quickly mount another attack which ends when Fellaini floatds his header onto the roof of the net.
CHANCE! Yet more poor control from Jelavic sees the Croatian waste another opportunity. Howard's hopeful punt finds the striker, but a woefully heavy first touch with his knee allows Bouzanis to come off his line and gather.
There will be two added minutes at the end of this first half...
HALF TIME: OLDHAM 1-1 EVERTON
Referee Phil Dowd blows his whistle and brings to an end an entertaining half of FA Cup action at Boundary Park. Oldham stunned their Premier League opponents when Jordan Obita tapped in at the back post, but the visitors got themselves back on level terms thanks to Victor Anichebe's emphatic finish.
So, another upset is still on today. Oldham showed plenty of determination in that opening 45 minutes, but Everton looked far more likely to score when they got forward. If Oldham score next then the dream is still very much alive. If Everton score then it's a long way back for the League One side.
Here's a reminder of the other FA Cup results from today...
Here's a reminder of the other FA Cup results from today...
FA CUP FIFTH ROUND RESULTS:
Arsenal 0-1 Blackburn Rovers
MK Dons 1-3 Barnsley
Luton Town 0-3 Millwall
SUBSTITUTION: Everton are making a change ahead of the second half and it's Kevin Mirallas on for Victor Anichebe.
Right, Oldham Athletic will restart this one...
Everton do some early pressing, but Bouzanis does well to catch Baines' cross.
GOAL! OLDHAM 1-2 EVERTON (JAGIELKA)
Everton lead at Boundary Park and it's Phil Jagielka with the goal! The corner comes in and the defender nods in from close range. It's a bizarre goal really as he just stands there to head it in, not jumping to evade his marker.
That corner was whipped in by Mirallas, so the substitute has had an almost instant impact. Meanwhile, what will that goal do to Oldham's confidence and gameplan?
CHANCE! Close from Pienaar! The South African links well with Fellaini on the edge of the box, but his low effort forces the save from Bouzanis.
YELLOW CARD! We have our first booking of the evening and it's for Everton captain Phil Neville, who bundled Jordan Obita over on the right wing.
It's all Everton at the moment. They're not looking too dangerous inside the final third, but they are passing it around with real confidence.
CHANCE! How has that not gone in? Mirallas whips in another wonderful corner, only for Osman to somehow head the ball wide from six yards. The midfielder got his timing all wrong there.
SUBSTITUTION: Oldham make their first change with an hour played and it's Matt Smith, who scored two goals against Liverpool in the last round, who replaces Chris Iwelumo.
That's naughty from Obita. The striker bundles Howard over after the goalkeeper comes out to collect the ball. Free kick given.
SUBSTITUTION: Oldham's second change of the match sees Dean Furman replace James Wesolowski.
Oldham start to pile on the pressure, but their hard work is undone when Baxter lashes a half-volley well over the crossbar.
Some confusion in the area as Obita's cross causes problems. Croft nearly get his shot away before the ball is pumped back into the box. Everton clear again before Tarkowski's attempted ball in flies over Howard's crossbar.
CHANCE! Jelavic does well to earn himself a yard of space out on the left before firing in a powerful cross towards Mirallas. The forward attacks it, but he misses it by a matter of inches as the ball goes out for a throw.
Everton get a free kick on the right and it's Osman who get his head to it. However, it's a looping header that Bouzanis collects on the line. A step back and he might have taken that over the line.
SUBSTITUTION: Oldham make their final change as goalscorer Jordan Obita comes off for Robbie Simpson.
Baxter pumps a cross into the box and it's Smith who glances his header wide. The home fans are starting to get a bit restless now with their side trailing 2-1 with just over 10 minutes to play.
Off comes Pienaar for Everton and it's Bryan Oviedo who is on.
SAVE! Great stop from Howard! Smith is able to get his shot off in the crowded penalty area, but the American gets down low to turn the ball away and behind. Everton struggle to get the resulting corner away before Gibson eventually whacks it clear.
CHANCE! Should be game over! Jelavic breaks clear following Gibson's pass, but he ends up smashing the ball over the crossbar from just inside the area with the Oldham defence recovering well.
Five minutes of normal time left in this one...
A half-chance for Everton there. Gibson plays in Mirallas, who is storming into the area, but his cross is cut out by the Oldham defence. He was unable to find a teammate in the middle (and there were a few waiting).
SAVE! Incredible stuff from Howard! The American stops Simpson from point-blank range before the substitute hits the rebound into the side-netting. That save could well have seen Everton into the quarter-finals.
The fourth official holds up his board...we'll have four minutes of added time.
SUBSTITUTION: Everton's final change sees Shane Duffy take the place of Nikica Jelavic.
GOAL! OLDHAM 2-2 EVERTON (SMITH)
Yes, you've read that right. Oldham equalise and it's Matt Smith who heads in from a corner. The home side had everyone in the box, including their goalkeeper, and it's Smith who rises highest to head in. Unbelievable.
FULL TIME: OLDHAM 2-2 EVERTON
Well, what can you say? The FA Cup really is the greatest cup competition there is. Oldham's dreams of the quarter-finals looked to be over, but Matt Smith's goal in the dying second of injury time has secured them a replay at Goodison Park. Jordan Obita put the hosts ahead before Victor Anichebe got Everton level at the break. Phil Jagielka's header looked to have won it for the Toffees before Smith nodded in. Breathless stuff.
Anyway, that's all from me for now. I need some fresh air. Thanks for your company; I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did. Make sure you join us tomorrow for more FA Cup and Premier League action. Goodbye!
Written by
Jack Prescott
Jack Prescott
