They may be languishing towards the bottom of the League One table at present, but there was once a time when Oldham Athletic dined at the top table.
The Latics were a top-flight club between 1991 and 1994, while around that time they reached the semi-final of the FA Cup on two occasions, both of which ended in replay defeats to eventual winners Manchester United.
However, as far as the League Cup was concerned, Oldham went one better in reaching the final in 1990 and it was during that run centre-forward Frankie Bunn set a competition record that still stands to this day.
Scarborough were on the receiving end of Bunn's exploits when they made the trip to Boundary Park for a third-round encounter 26 years ago today as the man that Paul Scholes would later name as his favourite player growing up went goal crazy.
By no means a clinical striker with former clubs Luton Town and Hull City, Bunn pounced on a goalkeeping error to break the deadlock for the Division One hosts in the 10th minute.
Soon after he scored his second of the night with a downward header, before his hat-trick was completed in the 20th minute with a sweeping effort from 12 yards out.
With the game already out of Scarborough's reach, Bunn refused to let up and he had four goals to his name when Mike Milligan's through pass set him away. His fifth, which arrived just before the break, came courtesy of a low cross from the right flank by full-back Denis Irwin.
Oldham and Bunn continued their domination after the restart, although he did not score the home side's sixth goal. That was Andy Ritchie, who fired in from outside of the box after Bunn had flicked the ball into his path.
Fittingly, though, the final say would go to Bunn as he scored his sixth and arguably best goal of the evening. Left-back Andy Barlow crossed to the far post for the frontman and he sent an instant volley into the opposite corner of the net.
His six-goal haul meant that when the referee blew the whistle for full time, no player had scored more goals in a League Cup tie than Bunn.
Speaking more recently about that achievement, Bunn said: "I remember everything. You never get fed up of talking about it and they are fantastic memories. It was a great achievement personally to score six times in one game but it was also great to be a part of that team ethos.
"There have been a few players come close over the years with five goals, but it was just one of those nights when everything I touched seemed to go in. The supply from the wide areas was brilliant and I don't think I realised at the time just how good a team it was."
Liam Apicella
