Dean Furman scored a wonder goal to give Latics a first-half lead in their opening home npower League One game of the season against Notts County.

The midfield man broke the deadlock in Paul Dickov's home debut as manager with a stunning long-range strike, his first goal since joining Latics in the summer of 2009.

Latics made a bright start and ought to have taken a second-minute lead when Oumare Tounkara had a free header, but his goal attempt cleared the crossbar from eight yards.

County hit back and had three goalscoring chances in as many minutes.

Lee Hughes, County captain for the day, flicked on a free kick from Ben Davies and the ball was kept out by the legs of keeper Brill.

The Latics shot-stopper then had to make two further saves in quick succession to turn an angled shot from Davies round the post for a corner and then tip over a close-range effort from Ben Burgess who should have found the net from six yards.

Latics played some delightful football, but lacked a cutting edge while County remained the more dangerous side in front of goal as Burgess had another decent chance which Ritchie Jones diverted round the post for a corner with Brill beaten.

The deadlock was broken by Latics shortly after the half-hour mark with a goal of stunning creation and execution.

Latics strung together a move consisting of a series of first-touch passes and which ended with Furman finding the net with an unstoppable drive from 30 yards which arrowed into the top corner of the net.

They came close to doubling their advantage not long afterwards when Lewis Alessandra cut in from the left and fired a low shot narrowly wide.

Half-time: Latics 1, Notts County 0.