OLDHAM picked up their second piece of silverware in four days - but paid a heavy cost.

Their midfielder Richie Wellens was forced off seven minutes into the second half of the Rose Bowl clash with Rochdale with a hamstring strain and will miss the start of the season.

Rochdale also lost trialist Tony Vaughan. The 30-year-old former Manchester City defender limped off injured after just 23 minutes.

Another ex-City defender, Lee Crooks, 28, played the full game and did his hopes of winning a contract no harm.

But neither side produced any flowing football and a stalemate after 90 forgettable minutes was no surprise. The only real excitment came in a penalty shoot-out which Oldham won 3-2 after keeper Les Pogliacomi guessed right to keep out a poor effort from former team-mate Ernie Cooksey in a nightmare return to Boundary Park.

It was enough to win the Rose Bowl Trophy to add to the Lancashire Senior Cup following victory over Preston earlier in the week, again on penalties.

But Latics' boss, John Sheridan admitted: "If we perform like that in our opening game at Tranmere we will get battered."

He added: "I know we can do better. We are trying to go the right way but players switch off and that's why they are playing at this level."

How do you think Oldham are shaping up for the new season? Have your say.

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