Oldham Athletic 1 Carlisle United 2: Blues stun rivals with dramatic late victory

Morgan Feeney was the Blues' hero as he headed a 94th-minute winner with almost the final touch of the game.

It sparked memorable scenes in a packed away end as Carlisle took another major step towards League Two survival under Simpson.

After Mark Howard had saved a first-half Davis Keillor-Dunn penalty, ex-Blues man Hallam Hope shot Oldham in front moments before the break.

But United fought back and levelled through Omari Patrick's third in three games before Feeney's first Carlisle goal put Simpson's men six points above the relegation zone - ending the hosts' seven-game unbeaten run under John Sheridan in the process.

Carlisle are now 18th in the table as the manager maintained his 100 per cent record since returning to the club.

United celebrate Patrick's equaliser

Simpson named the same side for the third successive game.

It saw the manager stick with the same defensive line-up which again saw Jon Mellish join Dynel Simeu and Feeney at centre-half.

Latics manager Sheridan made two changes, Dylan Bahamboula and Callum Whelan returning to their line-up, replacing Tope Obedayi and Raphael Diarra.

Oldham began on the front foot with ex-Blues man Nicky Adams testing the Cumbrians with some early crosses.

At the other end, a bright United move saw Jack Armer pick out Patrick in the box, but the frontman heade over from a good position.

Jordan Gibson saw plenty of the ball and he sent a firm shot at keeper Danny Rogers from 20 yards.

Oldham responded with a Keillor-Dunn shot which flashed wide, before they were awarded a penalty on 26 minutes.

Simeu was judged to have handled Adams' free-kick and, after a scuffle which saw four players booked, Keillor-Dunn fired the penalty against Howard's legs, Bahamboula sending the rebound wide.

Mark Howard saves Keillor-Dunn's penalty

A further flashpoint saw Hope and Adams both booked after the former's challenge on Howard led to angry exchanges.

For United, Jamie Devitt drilled wide from a good position but then, after Bahamboula headed over, the Latics went ahead in the third added first-half minute.

Adams was again the architect with a left-wing cross which Mellish headed against his own post. Jordan Clarke drilled the breaking ball across from the right and Hope turned it home in the six-yard box.

Hallam Hope celebrates Oldham's opener in front of the travelling fans

United, though, hit back three minutes into the second half as they broke quickly to score.

Gibson won the ball well on the right and when he fed Kristian Dennis, the striker swiftly sent a through-ball to Patrick who was away from the defence and finished impressively past keeper Danny Rogers for his sixth in 12 outings since rejoining Carlisle in January.

It saw big celebrations in front of the away end.

Omari Patrick celebrates his leveller

Oldham tried to hit back but Bahamboula miskicked from a good position before Hope headed wide.

Then, after a good spell of United pressure, Devitt curled a shot too high from outside the box.

Sheridan was the first to make a change, Obedayi replacing Bahamboula, before Simpson sent on Tobi Sho-Silva and Danny Devine for Dennis and Devitt.

United could then have led when Joe Riley fed Gibson after a driving run, and the midfielder picked out Patrick, but the frontman headed over from a good central position.

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At the other end, Oldham had a brief sight of goal when Howard failed to hold an Adams cross, but United's defenders got back to clear as Hope looked to pounce.

Blues sub Devine then failed to beat Rogers after excellent work on the left by Patrick, who later fed Gibson in the box, the midfielder hooking the ball away from defenders before volleying just wide.

Rogers spilled a late Callum Guy shot but Oldham survived that attack.

But a late Carl Piergianni foul on Sho-Silva gave United one final chance - and when Guy floated in the free-kick, Feeney rose highest to head across Rogers and into the far corner.

It sparked huge celebrations in the 1,294 travelling support.

Oldham: Rogers, Clarke, Hart, McGahey, Piergianni, Adams (Stobbs 87), Whelan (Hunt 80), Missilou, Hope, Keillor-Dunn, Bahamboula (Obadeyi 69). Not used: Leutwiler, Couto, Vaughan, Hopcutt.

Goal: Hope 45.

Booked: Bahamboula, Missilou, Hope, Adams.

United: Howard, Simeu, Feeney, Mellish, Riley, Armer, Guy, Devitt (Sho-Silva 72), Gibson, Patrick, Dennis (Devine 72). Not used: Norman, Alessandra, Whelan, Roberts, Omotoye.

Goals: Patrick 48, Feeney 90.

Booked: Mellish, Simeu.

Ref: Sam Allison.

Crowd: 7,327 (1,294 United fans)