EVERTON'S progress into to the quarter finals of the FA Cup was stalled by an injury time Matt Smith header for Oldham which ensured their fifth round tie must go to a replay.
David Moyes' side were leading 2-1 through strikes from Victor Anichebe and Phil Jagielka as the clock ticked down at Boundary Park, but the League One side struck moments before the final whistle.
It means the Toffees will have to do it all over again on Wednesday February 27 at Goodsion, as they eventually succumbed to the physical threat of Smith, who knocked their rivals from across Stanley Park out in the prervious round.
Smith's goal would have been merely a consolation if Nikica Jelavic had scored a gilt-edged chance beforehand, which the struggling Croatian striker blazed over the bar.
Jelavic had at least started like he meant business, closing down Dean Bouzaris in the Latics goal and champing at the bit to make a quick impact. He almost got his wish after five minutes when a deft through ball from Steven Pienaar allowed him to dart between the Oldham centre backs, but the 27-year-old was unable to get the ball fully under control and the chance fizzled out.
Everton were believed to be better equipped to deal with the hosts’ rough stuff, but Tony Philliskirk’s men were not going to let that deter them from trying to ruffle their Premier League visitors. Fortunately referee Phil Dowd was sympathetic to the clumsy pressure applied on Leon Osman in particular, and Everton won a string of early free kicks - with Leighton Baines going close from an effort just outside the area which was deflected narrowly over the bar.
So far, so good – then came the typical fright. Jose Baxter cleared Everton’s corner and Osman slipped while Lee Croft surged past him, eating up the yards to bear down on goal. His miscued shot shouldn’t have worried Tim Howard, but it skewed into a useful cross that Jordan Obita prodded home at the far post.
Suddenly Moyes’ worst nightmare loomed. His side’s passing began to disintegrate on the patch-work pitch, and the nerves among the visitors were palpable. Thanks heavens then for the blunt instrument that is Victor Anichebe. The Nigerian equalised with a proper League One-style goal, seizing on Phil Jagielka’s long punt, turning James Tarkowski and rifling home a powerful shot.
There was little time to become complacent though. Obita capitalised on good hold-up play by Lee Barnard to unleash a dangerous strike which clipped the post and rolled across the face of goal. It was a let off, and should have signalled the swing in momentum Everton needed to truly assert their class. Instead they remained laboured and below-par as Oldham’s predictable rough stuff continued to seemingly surprise them.
They continued to get most success from a direct approach, with Darron Gibson picking out Marouane Fellaini near to the break with a cross from the right which the Belgian headed just over.
Moyes decided to introduce another Belgian, Kevin Mirallas, for the second half in place of Anichebe, and the former Olympaicos forward made a swift difference. It was his menacing corner kick which dropped just in front of Bouzaris, and Phil Jagielka managed to escape the rugby tackles of the Oldham defence to nod into the net.
It signalled a period of calm and superiority for the Toffees, who began to pick Olham apart with their best passing spell of the game.
It didn’t stop Obita being a menace however, and he forced Phil Neville into an error and burst through on goal only to send a tame effort into the arms of Howard.
Buoyed by the opening, Oldham sent on their battering ram Matt Smith to try and turn the tie, and his introduction gave the home fans extra heart even as Everton began to dictate the game. Osman and Pienaar played nifty triangles as the Latics tired at chasing the ball, but still the away fans couldn’t quite relax.
Oldham sub Robbie Simpson fired a low cross into the area and Smith turned smartly to force a terrific low save from Howard. At the other end Jelavic blazed over a glorious chance to effectively seal the contest.
If that might have been a pivotal moment, Everton’s goalkeeper certainly seemed to deliver one just before 90 minutes had elapsed. Simpson controlled a cross into Everton’s area and turned well to lash goalbound effort that Howard again had to be at his best to divert.
It should have been enough to seal a place in the quarter finals, but that reckoned without the scourge of Merseyside, Smith, who struck again in injury time.
If Everton are to progress into the quarter finals, they’re going to have to do it the hard way.
