Jim Gannon made one change from the side that beat Southend seven days ago with fit-again Dave Mooney replacing Anthony Pilkington who joined Huddersfield yesterday.

The Pilkington name lived on, though, with Anthony's younger brother, Danny, named on the bench.

Latics included former Hatters loanee, Craig Davies, on the bench.

Pre-match was a throw back to the 1970s with both sets of fans in the Rochdale Toad End trying to out sing each other.

And the 2,000 plus travelling army were almost celebrating a goal inside the first minute. Leon McSweeney got behind the Latics defence and took the ball past goalkeeper Greg Fleming. His left foot shot was going in until Scott Golbourne popped up top clear off the line.

Oldham stunned County with a goal from their first attack after three minutes. Dean Windass's cross from the right found Danny Whittaker on the edge of the box. He worked the ball from right foot to left before beating Fon Williams inside his right-hand post.

Two minutes later Windass wasted a glorious opportunity when he headed Mark Allott's cross over the bar.

Latics threatened again a minute later when Fon Williams saved well from Deane Smalley.

County were rocking and they should have fallen further behind when Johnny Mullins hit a back pass to Klee Hughes. Fon Williams came to the rescue with a good block.

The pressure was relentless and Windass missed another chance on 10 minutes when he shot over.

The second goal arrived on 18 minutes. A long clearance was flicked on by Windass to Hughes who tucked the ball under Fon Williams.

The Hatters were struggling to contain Smalley when he came in off the right flank and on 21 minutes the winger went on a 40 yard run and shot that took a deflection to a grateful Fon Williams.

Three minutes later Jim Gannon changed things, replacing Carl Baker with Oli Johnson.

Jimmy McNulty's weak header back to Fon Williams should have been punished by another goal. The ball fell straight to Hughes who lobbed over the bar.

Windass set up another chance for the dangerous Smalley. Once again Fon Williams saved.

Five minutes before the break County grabbed an unlikely lifeline. Leon McSweeney crossed form the right and Johnson planted a downward header past Fleming for his first Hatters' goal.

County started the second half brightly. They worked Mullins clear three minutes in but the fullback's cross went behind.

County threatened again after 51- minutes. McSweeney played the ball to Johnson who crossed from the left. Mooney headed the ball wide at the far post when he might have left it for the better placed Mullins.

The Hatters rued the miss when Latics killed the game off with a third goal on 55 minutes. Again it was route one. Fleming's long clearance was flicked on by Windass to Chris Taylor. Little had been seen of the winger but he was allowed to race 40 yards before sliding the ball inside Fon Williams left-0hand post.

Oldham might have added to their scoreline but for Fon Williams who twice saved well from Taylor.

At the other end the travelling hordes had to wait until the final minute to see Fleming called into action.

Deep into added time McSweeney cross from the right. Rowe took aim from the edge of the box but the 'keeper made a comfortable save.