Latics swept aside a York City team that finished three places and 23 points ahead of them 3-0, thanks to a first half opener from Joe Garner and two goals in as many minutes early in the second half from Vimal Yoganathan and Joe Pritchard.

The result sets up a final with either Forest Green Rovers or Southend, who play tomorrow (Wednesday) night, and will be Latics’ first Wembley appearance in 35 years.

“It’s fabulous because the club’s been through so much and now to get the opportunity to take this football club to Wembley for the first time in 35 years is terrific.

“It’s terrific that we’ve got the opportunity. We’ve levelled the playing field. We’re not coming away to another team’s home ground. We’ve given ourselves a level playing field, to go and have a shot at the ultimate prize to try to get back in the Football League.”

And Mellon says his players have earned it.

“To come here and play like that – because we knew it was going to be a really tough game and we knew that we’d have to bring our A-game and get everything or most stuff right, which we did. It was a terrific performance from the players. We’re really happy and the fans will go home happy,” the Scot continued.

“We’ll have a couple of days off now and then we’ll start working towards whoever our opponents are at – I can’t believe I’m saying it… whoever our opponents are going to be at Wembley.

“I’m so pleased for the (Rothwell) family that we can take them to Wembley because they’ve done so much for the football club; Darren Royle, the Royle family. It’s great. We’ll give them that now and we’ll go and try to get Oldham back into the Football League.

“We know whoever we play it will be a difficult game, but we’re ready.”

Mellon added: “Every single player that I went to I said ‘Let’s go to Wembley and finish the job’ so we need to go there and again play very well and try to seal the deal.

Read more on;https://www.sportupdates.co.uk