SCOTT Vernon scooped the FA Cup jackpot for Latics as his 14th minute strike secured a famous third round victory over Manchester City.

The 20-year-old striker grabbed the headlines but this was a Herculean team effort from Brian Talbot's side whose workrate, belief and resilience never faltered.

Small wonder then that supporters spilled onto the pitch in unbridled joy at the final whistle to celebrate an heroic performance from a club that faced liquidation just over a year ago.

Boundary Park whipped up the ideal conditions to assist in the opening half with an inclement mix of wind, rain and sleet testing City's steel.

Latics were inexplicably denied the lead in the fifth minute when David Eyres' corner bent directly into the net, only to be ruled out for a foul to the relief of David James.

But with central midfield pair Neil Kilkenny and Mark Hughes in rampant mood, shellshocked City soon conceded that all-important goal.

Kilkenny's free-kick from the right found Eyres at the far post and he capitalised on some statuesque defending to square for Vernon to sidefoot home.

Kevin Keegan's men laboured in response but almost levelled two minutes before the break when Eyres headed Shaun Wright-Phillips' half-volley off the line after a double block from Les Pogliacomi.

Just two minutes after the restart, Kevin Betsy came agonisingly close to doubling the lead after Eyres sent him clear ' his lob cleared James but landed on the roof of the net.

Thereafter it was backs to the wall as City threw everything at Oldham but could not crack a backline marshalled by Will Haining and an inspired Pogliacomi.

The Australian blocked an Antoine Sibierksi header with his left foot and then a Bradley Wright Phillips shot with the opposite boot before producing the save of the match on 77 minutes.

Shaun Wright Phillips ' otherwise nullified by Eyres and Adam Griffin ' sprinted into space and unleashed an arrow-like 20-yard shot that Pogliacomi tipped wide at full stretch.

And the curious introductions of Steve McManaman and Willo Flood failed to spark City's siege despite Danny Mills and even keeper James joining a desperate late assault.

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