Oldham Athletic’s seven game unbeaten run was ended at home to Scunthorpe United as they fell to a 2-3 defeat.
Tom Hopper and Josh Morris put the Iron two goals ahead in the opening 10 minutes of the game but captain Peter Clarke managed to pull a goal back before half time.
Latics pushed and pushed for a leveller and found it on 81 minutes as Craig Davies bundled home at the back post to equalise.
However, two minutes later, Scunthorpe found the winning goal through Duane Holmes as he slid in at the back post to win the game for Graham Alexander’s men.
That goal ended Athletic’s unbeaten run of seven games and was Richie Wellens’ first defeat in charge.
Richie Wellens made two changes, one enforced, to his squad which beat Bury on Tuesday night.
Johny Placide missed the game following the passing of his mother, and he was replaced by Jack Ruddy, whilst Abdelhakim Omrani earned his first league start for the club.
It was a disastrous start to the first half as Scunthorpe United took the lead in the fifth minute.
Hakeeb Adelukun picked out Lee Novak in the centre, Jack Ruddy made the save but Hopper was on hand to put the ball into an empty goal to put the Iron ahead.
One became two five minutes later as the visitors extended their lead.
A mix up at the back allowed Funso Ojo to pick up the loose ball and he threaded it through to Morris to double the Iron’s lead.
Latics struggled to get going in the half with passes going astray on a regular occurrence.
Morris curled an effort over the crossbar midway through the half whilst Latics almost found a route to goal but Doyle could not take the ball into his path after Abdelhakim Omrani’s through ball.
Wellens made a change on the half hour mark as Omrani was replaced by Queensy Menig who offered more width.
Ousmane Fane was booked just minutes later after an aerial battle with Jordan Clarke and Latics started to dominate the possession more.
Jack Byrne held the ball more and almost opened up Scunthorpe on 38 minutes as he fired the ball into the feet of Doyle but the ball just skidded from under his feet.
After Dan Gardner mis-kicked an effort on the edge of the box, he was presented with another opportunity minutes before the break.
And what a move it was. It consisted of over 15 passes, and ended with Gardner striking inches wide from 18 yards.
Athletic took the game to the visitors and were rewarded in the first minute of additional time in the first half.
Byrne’s corner was kept alive by Craig Davies who nodded back to Clarke who bravely headed into the back of the net to reduce the arrears.
Two great chances followed to equalise for Latics. Firstly, Davies did well to cross the ball to Doyle but he could not connect properly with his shot from 12 yards and a minute later, Gardner fired over from 25 yards.
Latics came out strongly in the second half as Menig went close in the opening minute but he curled his effort wide.
Not long after, Gardner drove into space in midfield, played the ball through to Davies but his shot was just blocked.
Latics continued to pile on the pressure through the pace of Menig and the prowess of Doyle.
The two combined just before the hour mark as Menig crossed for Doyle but the ball deflected into the arms of Matt Gilks.
However, Athletic had to be wary of the counter attack as the Iron were adamant they should have been awarded a penalty on 60 minutes but the referee waved away the protests.
Good defending from Clarke denied Hopper a sight of goal whilst from the resulting corner, former Athletic loanee Cameron Burgess headed wide from six yards.
Wellens brought on Brian Wilson in place of goalscorer Clarke as Latics continued to go in search of the equalising goal.
With 20 minutes remaining, Menig and Doyle again combined as the winger got to the byline, crossed, but Doyle fired over the crossbar.
Tuesday night’s hero Aaron Amadi-Holloway was introduced on 77 minutes and minutes later, he would help Latics earn an equaliser.
A free kick into the box was not cleared properly, it fell to the back post to Holloway who headed across to Davies at the far post to guide home.
However, two minutes later, all the hard work was undone as Scunthorpe managed to get back ahead.
Morris won the ball on the left, got to the byline and crossed into the centre for Holmes to bundle over the line to win the game.
Athletic continued to put the pressure on the Iron with Holloway, Davies and Doyle still a threat in attack.
In the final minute of additional time, with everyone forward, Byrne’s corner found Menig at the back post who volleyed across the box to Holloway but he could not convert.
Oldham Athletic: Ruddy, Dummigan, Clarke (Wilson 66’), Bryan, Hunt (Holloway 77’), Byrne, Omrani (Menig 29’), Fane, Gardner, Davies, Doyle.
Subs not used: Gerrard, Green, Nepomuceno, Flynn.
Scunthorpe United: Gilks, Clarke, Wallace, Ojo, Morris, Bishop (Crofts 86’), Hopper (Church 65’), Adelakun (Holmes 70’), Novak, Burgess, McArdle.
Subs not used: Watson, Madden, Van Veen, Butroid.
Goals: Oldham Athletic (Clarke 45+1’, Davies 81’) 2-3 Scunthorpe United (Hopper 5’, Morris 10’, Holmes 83’)
Attendance: 4,331 (440 visiting supporters)