The dream of Wembley may be over at Boundary Park, but Oldham Athletic striker Matt Smith will visit the home of football after winning Budweiser FA Cup player-of-the round.
Despite Oldham’s fifth-round exit at the hands of Everton, Smith became the latest FA Cup goal-scoring hero to win the award.
The 23-year-old striker was nominated for scoring a famous last-gasp equaliser to secure a replay at Goodison Park, where he scored again.
Smith won the award ahead of Blackburn’s Jake Kean and Wigan duo Arouna Kone and Callum McManaman, with 48% of the fans’ votes.
The University of Manchester graduate was also nominated in the fourth round, after netting twice against Everton’s Merseyside rivals, Liverpool.
On that occasion he lost to Luton striker Scott Rendell, following his match-winning performance against Norwich.
Smith will receive a commemorative player-of-the-round trophy and will be invited to this season’s FA Cup final, as a guest of Budweiser and the FA.
Joining Smith will be Rendell, Alex Lawless, Danny Hylton, Ryan Bowman, Andre Gray, Kieran Lavery, Nicky Platt and Scott Murray – winners of the other rounds.
The FA Cup resumes this weekend, with Manchester United hosting Chelsea, Manchester City at home to Barnsley and Wigan travelling to Everton.
Image courtesy of Oldham Athletic, via YouTube, with thanks.
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