Striker Dominic Poleon smashed a hat-trick in a behind-closed-doors game this afternoon against Southport in a comfortable 5-0 win.
First year professional Danny Byrnes and second year youth scholar Lee Knight grabbed the other two goals but it was Poleon that stole the headlines.The striker notched his first of the afternoon on 16 minutes as he beat the offside trap, rounded the goalkeeper and slotted into an empty net to put Latics ahead.
Ten minutes later, it was two. Winger Byrnes swivelled on the edge of the box and hit a sublime finish into the top corner to double Latics’ advantage.
Jordan Bove was brought on at half time in place of Rhys Murphy but it was Athletic that were forced into some early defending as Southport came back into the game.
Their striker glided past David Cornell but out of nowhere, George Edmundson was back on the line to preserve the clean sheet.
It was an even encounter until the final ten minutes of the game when Latics notched three further goals.
Knight made it 3-0 after substitute striker Bove laid it on a plate for the youngster to finish into an empty goal from five yards.
Bove again was the architect, supplying Poleon with his second of the game on 84 minutes with a low cross to make it four.
The former Leeds man completed his hat-trick in the final minute of the game, netting from close range after George Green’s cross.
After the game, Poleon tweeted: “Happy to get 90mins under my belt even better to get a hat trick #hardwork.”
Oldham Athletic Starting XI: Cornell, Mantack, Edmundson, Stott, Truelove, Green, Tuohy, Byrnes, Jacobs, Murphy, Poleon.