Oldham Athletic ran out 3-1 winners at home to local rivals Macclesfield Town as Sam Surridge, Johan Branger-Engone and Ishmael Miller get on the scoresheet.

That was despite Michael Rose making it a nervy second half for the hosts with a well taken freekick.

Latics started the game bright and vibrant and were almost ahead inside two minutes when Captain Peter Clarke found himself free from a corner.

Clarke making his 700^th career appearance, attacked Dan Gardner’s corner but couldn’t direct the effort on target.

Former Oldham player Danny Whitaker had a couple of half chances for the visitors, but he only really found the hands of Daniel Iversen on both occasions.

Then came the opening goal as Surridge picked up the loose ball and drove at the Silkmen defence.

He knocked it past Fiacre Kelleher before slotting calmly past Rhys Taylor in the Macclesfield goal for his first goal for Oldham.

Both Surridge and his strike partner Chris O’Grady were working hard for the home side and O’Grady almost grabbed himself a goal.

Rob Hunt delivered from the right and although Miles Welch-Hayes headed away the cross, it was straight into O’Grady’s head, but he couldn’t quite adjust to put it on target.

Macclesfield always looked dangerous on the counter attack without an end product, but after some neat football Malachai Napa found himself free inside the Oldham box.

However, the midfielder could only find the hands of Iversen and Latics saw out the half.

Latics doubled their lead shortly after half-time despite Macclesfield pressing for the equaliser.

Branger-Engone’s deflected effort beat Taylor in goal after Gardner had nicked the ball from Rose inside the visitors’ half.

However, Rose redeemed himself with a well taken freekick under the wall after Giles Coke brought down Koby Arthur on the edge of the box.

Macclesfield could have been level after Kelleher headed towards goal from a corner, but Hunt was there to clear off the line before Gardner forced a good low stop from Taylor.

The away side pushed on for the leveller, but the Oldham backline stood firm and Miller ensured the first win of the season with a third.

George Edmundson launched the ball clear and after initially holding the ball in the corner, Miller decided to barge and power his way into the box before slotting it into the corner of the net.

A much-needed win for the Latics to get the Sky Bet League Two season off and running.

Attendance 4330 (495 Away)

Oldham Line Up:

Iversen, Hunt, Edmundson, Clarke ©, Taylor, Branger-Engone, Gardner, Coke, Nepomuceno (Graham 67), O’Grady, Surridge (Miller 82)

Macclesfield Line Up:

Taylor, Fitzpatrick ©, Kelleher, Grimes, Smith, Welch-Hayes (Pearson), Napa (Blissett 55), Maycock (Wilson 73), Arthur, Rose, Whittaker