Oldham Athletic secured a comfortable away win at Crewe Alexandra thanks to two stunning goals from Peter Clarke and Chris O’Grady.
The pair made it back-to-back goals as Latics recorded two wins on the bounce.
The home side had the first opportunity of the game as Latics gave the ball away in the middle of the pitch with it falling to Callum Ainley who forced a good save from Daniel Iversen with his feet.
Latics’ first effort came through Mohamed Maouche as he tested Ben Garratt in the Crewe goal with a freekick.
It was a wet and windy afternoon in Cheshire with the game really struggling to get into any flow until Captain Clarke stepped up to give Oldham the lead.
Clarke picked up the ball on the halfway line as he drove it forward and unleashed an effort from over 30 yards out into the top corner.
It’s probably no exaggeration that it’s more than likely the best goal he’s scored in his career.
However, Latics almost squandered that lead as Shaun Miller ran in behind the defence, but once again Iversen was there to save.
Crewe were starting to get a foothold in the game as they worked it nicely down the left before Charlie Kirk forced another great stop from Iversen.
Frankie Bunn’s side doubled the lead when O’Grady picked the ball up on the edge of the box and he hit a curling left-footed effort on the turn into the bottom corner.
Gevaro Nepomuceno then curled an effort over the bar as Oldham went into half time in full control of the contest.
Latics began the second half as they ended the first as Christopher Missilou attacked a corner, but once again Garratt was there to save.
Surridge headed over from another corner before he was denied by Garratt with an effort from the right-hand side of the penalty area.
The home side made a triple substitution and it was one of those substitutes in Owen Dale who forced another brilliant stop from Iversen as the ball broke to him in the Latics box.
Oldham were comfortably defending the lead and they could have had a third when Johan Branger-Engone played Surridge in, but once again Garratt would deny the striker.
The win means Latics are now seven unbeaten in all competitions as they take on local rivals Rochdale in the rearranged Checkatrade Trophy match on Tuesday.
Attendance 4,168 (1,027 Away)
Crewe Alexandra
Garratt, Ng ©, Pickering, Jones, Miller, Bowery (Dale 65’), Ainley, Nolan (Ray 65’), Wintle, Kirk (Porter 65’), Whealen
Oldham Athletic
Iversen, Dummigan, Clarke ©, Edmundson, Hunt, Lang, Maouche, Missilou (Lyden 90’), Nepomuceno (Branger-Engone 90’), Surridge, O’Grady