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Everton end Oldham's FA Cup adventure

Goals from Kevin Mirallas, Leighton Baines and Leon Osman took David Moyes’ side into the last eight.

Everton’s Kevin Mirallas scores the opening goal of the game against Oldham Athletic. Nigel French/EMPICS Sport

EVERTON SUCCEEDED WHERE Merseyside rivals Liverpool had failed by beating Oldham Athletic 3-1 tonight to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Third-tier Oldham eliminated Liverpool in round four and held Everton to a 2-2 draw in their initial fifth-round meeting 10 days ago, but their cup heroics were ended in the replay at Goodison Park.

Goals from Kevin Mirallas, Leighton Baines and Leon Osman took David Moyes’ side into the last eight, where they will face Wigan Athletic, with Oldham’s cup talisman Matt Smith replying for the visitors. Beaten semi-finalists in last season’s competition, Everton were without the injured Marouane Fellaini but made a purposeful start and took the lead in the 15th minute.

After a patient build-up, Darron Gibson shaped a beautiful cross into the box from deep on the right and Mirallas stole in to finish with an adroit half-volley from eight yards. Oldham almost drew level immediately through former Everton youngster Jose Baxter, who seized on a loose ball on the edge of the box but saw his curling shot bounce back off the right-hand upright.

The visitors then had a penalty appeal turned down when Phil Jagielka’s clearance struck Gibson on the arm. Their resurgence proved short-lived, however, as Baines helped Everton stamp their authority on the tie.

Having seen a vicious strike saved by Oldham goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis minutes earlier, the England left-back doubled his side’s advantage from the penalty spot in the 34th minute after Connor Brown was penalised for handball.

Everton centre-back Jagielka blazed over the Oldham bar early in the second half, while Bouzanis saved from Osman.

In response, Oldham introduced giant striker Smith, scorer of two goals against Liverpool and an injury-time equaliser in the first game with Everton.

Oldham rallied, Lee Croft firing wide from a good position, but in the 62nd minute, Everton struck again.

Steven Pienaar whipped a cross into the box from the left and Osman’s flicked header deceived Bouzanis, who was distracted by the onrushing Nikica Jelavic. Smith replied immediately, nodding in a right-wing corner from close range, but Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard resisted Oldham’s efforts to claw their way back into the game.

- © AFP, 2013

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    Mute Gaius Gracchus
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    Feb 26th 2013, 10:20 PM

    As a Liverpool fan, I would love to see Everton and Moyes win the FA Cup, preferably beating Man United in the final :)

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    Mute Niall Quinlan
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    Feb 26th 2013, 11:31 PM

    I love ABU’s, in reality 99% of them are Liverpool fans hiding behind a banner and incidentally, since the movement started in 1992 by our very own Des Cahill United have gone on to dominate English football :-)

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    Mute Tom Keating
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    Feb 27th 2013, 7:59 AM

    Good man!

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    Mute Kevin Walsh
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    Feb 26th 2013, 10:14 PM

    Mon the blues

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    Mute The Red Devil
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    Feb 27th 2013, 12:25 AM

    Leave the poor Liverpool fans alone its hard enough to know that there sh*t but to get them to admit it another thing
    Things are bad when they will cheer Everton over United
    We shall leave them with there history and the sobering taught which they all deep down know- that they are now no closer to winning a league title than they were over 20 years ago …..sad
    And before the u had to wait 26 yrs for the title quotes come its true but we don’t go on about it- 3 more seasons and we can put that to bed to wont be long now- cause u can be sure and every pool fan knows it – they will not win the league in that time – scary pool fans but true

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    Mute Gaius Gracchus
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    Feb 27th 2013, 8:05 AM

    *their x 2 and I’m happy to admit Liverpool are fairly muck at the moment,must have touched a nerve!

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    Mute David
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    Feb 27th 2013, 10:44 AM

    As the only Irish Oldham supporter (probably) I think they did League One proud. People sometimes forget the gulf between the leagues but even with the difference Oldham punched well above their weight. Well done toffs.

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    Mute Tom Keating
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    Feb 27th 2013, 8:00 AM

    Nice one Toffees!

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