JOHN Coleman had been bemoaning the fact his side hadn't clicked up front - that has now happened and it is full focus on his defence.

The Reds hadn't scored at home this season but it took pacey striker Roscoe Dsane just nine minutes in his first Stanley start to celebrate a goal.

And it was all the more special in that it was against League One side Oldham in the first round of the Johnstone Paints Trophy - a competition the Reds got to the Northern quarter-finals of last season.

Andy Procter added a second from the penalty spot and the Reds seemed to be cruising.

But John Sheridan gave his higher league team a half-time blast and they responded with three second half goals which ended Stanley's quick foray into the Trophy.

And Coleman blasted his backline for their inability to shut-up shop and seal a morale-boosting win for his foot of the table side.

"Oldham should have been dead and buried as we had enough chances and then went to sleep for five minutes and were punished," slammed the manager. "I am bitterly disappointed.

"The only positive to take from it is that we have scored at home and stopped our hoodoo but I am disappointed to be out of the cup.

"That defending is not good enough and I lay the blame fairly and squarely on the back five.

"They went totally to sleep in the second half, gifted possession and couldn't clear their lines and I won't put up with that."

It was disappointing end to a game which promised so much after Stanley had put the League One side to the sword in the first half.

They went at it from the off, with Dsane and David Brown starting for the first time this season, making an impact.

Dsane was a handful for the Oldham back line and he opened the scoring with a solo effort, firing into the top corner of the net from 15 yards.

The Reds bossed the game and then seemed to be in total control when former Preston defender Sean Gregan tugged back Dsane in the area on 28 minutes. Procter took the responsibility of the spot kick and tucked it home well.

Oldham offered little and Brown was enjoying his midfield tussle while Dsane was breaking at pace and linking up well with Paul Mullin while Rommy Boco was a threat on the wing.

And it looked like they could make it a stunning three when Dsane again charged forward only to be hacked down by defender Neal Trotman on the edge of the area.

The Stanley fans were chanting 'Off' but, much to the amazement of everyone, referee Scott Mathieson didn't even show a card and John Miles' free kick couldn't find the target.

It started off more of the same after the break with Boco doing all the hard work on the left and playing in a fast paced cross which Dsane, charging in, could only steer wide.

And then Oldham found their feet as their three up front - changed just before the break - began to make an impact.

Mark Roberts had to charge back to scoop a Craig Davies shot off the line on 54 minutes and it was a sign of things to come.

One minute later and veteran striker Andy Liddell got the ball on the edge of the area and stuck it perfectly past Ian Dunbavin in the Stanley goal.

And the Reds were still reeling when the powerful Davies broke again, and got the better of Roberts.

Robbie Williams did charge back and force him wide but then, in what Coleman called a "comedy of errors", Williams clearance hit Dunbavin came back to Davies who finished well from a tight angle.

2-2 and the Oldham fans behind the goal found their voice.

It was still anyone's game with Leam Richardson making a gut-busting run but firing narrowly wide - although he was ruled off-side - and Davies and Wolfenden both having a go for the Latics.

Then came what turned out to be the winner when the grounded Wolfenden managed to hook the ball into the net after the Reds failed to clear their lines.

Stanley never gave up and there was utter disbelief from the home fans on 79 minutes when substitute Leighton McGivern was pushed by Oldham defender John Thompson in the area.

The assistant signalled penalty but, unbelievably, the referee didn't give it - despite the protests of the Stanley players.

And there was more late agony for the Reds when, with one minute left, Oldham keeper Mark Crossley didn't know a lot about a fierce shot from McGivern but he stuck his foot out and stopped the clash going to penalties - which the Reds at least deserved.

"I thought we had tightened up at the back but obviously we haven't and we cannot give goals away like that. Other people will have to come in," added Coleman.

Stanley: Dunbavin, Richardson, Williams, Roberts, Edwards, Miles (McGrail 77), Proctor, Brown, Boco (Whalley 58), D'Sane (McGivern 78), Mullin. Not used: Arthur, Harris

Subs Not Used: Arthur, Harris.

Booked: Mullin, McGrail.

Oldham: Crossley, Thompson, Gregan, Trotman, Bertrand, McDonald (Lomax 82), Kalala (Wolfenden 43), Allott, Taylor, Davies, Liddell.

Subs Not Used: Pogliacomi, Kelly, Chalmers.

Ref: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire).

Crowd: 1465