A debut goal from Patrick McEleney and an effort from returning striker Eoin Doyle sealed a valuable three points for Oldham Athletic against Scunthorpe United.
An effort from Jack Byrne deflected off the back of McEleney to give Latics the lead 12 minutes from time whilst Doyle was to mark his return with a goal to seal the game.
And what a goal it was. Aaron Holloway won the ball in the midfield, Doyle picked up the ball and weaved his way past two men before firing into the bottom corner to win the game and move Athletic out of the relegation places.
It was also a second clean sheet in as many games for goalkeeper Johny Placide.
Manager Richie Wellens made one change to the side which beat MK Dons 18-days ago.
Wilfried Moimbe came back into the side in place of Gevaro Nepomuceno at left back whilst Doyle was back on the bench for Latics after he recovered from his blood clot.
There was also a place on the bench for McEleney who was signed from Dundalk in January.
Scunthorpe shaded the early possession but it was Latics who had the first effort on goal.
Duckens Nazon fired from 25 yards into the arms of Matt Gilks, however, it was the home side who started to dominate.
Josh Morris dragged an effort wide from inside the penalty box whilst minutes later, Rory McArdle headed wide from a corner into the box.
Athletic could have taken the lead on 15 minutes as Wilfried Moimbe managed to get beyond Neal Bishop and drove into the penalty area. He managed to pick out Davies 12 yards from goal but the striker fired over.
Midway through the first half, a mistake from Hakeem Adelakun was almost capitalised on by Craig Davies but the striker was just stopped by McArdle’s last ditch challenge.
Placide comfortably saved a header from Tom Hopper on the half hour mark, whilst two minutes later came Athletic’s best chance of the half to take the lead.
Jack Byrne played an excellent through ball to Nazon who took the ball in his path but the striker volleyed wide from 18 yards.
Anthony Gerrard was booked on 39 minutes for holding back Hopper but from the resulting free kick, Placide saved well as the ball looked to be heading towards the top corner.
The final chance of the half went to the home side as Hopper rattled the crossbar. Adelakun crossed from the right towards the striker but his header rebounded off the crossbar as it remained goalless at the break.
Scunthorpe took the game to Latics in the opening minutes of the second half and almost forced a mistake from Placide.
Adelakun struck from inside the penalty area which Placide spilled but claimed at the second attempt.
Wellens introduced Patrick McEleney for his long-awaited debut just before the hour mark and it was Athletic who almost found the lead minutes later.
Moimbe’s cross into the box caused problems in the Scunthorpe defence, it fell to Davies at the back post but he could not direct his effort goalwards.
Wellens rolled his final two rolls of the dice on the hour mark as Aaron Holloway replaced Nazon whilst Doyle was introduced for his second debut in place of Davies.
Despite the changes, Athletic had to be wary as Duane Holmes broke the offside trap but dragged his effort wide from 18 yards.
A flurry of changes followed for the home side as both sides struggled to create chances in front of goal.
It would have taken a piece of magic to open up the game, however, it ended up coming from a stroke of luck.
Byrne picked up the ball 25 yards from goal, he fired at goal, it took a deflection off McEleney and deceived the goalkeeper and Latics took the lead.
One was soon to become two and it was Doyle who was back amongst the goals.
Holloway won the ball in the midfield and played the striker through, he still had a lot to do but he rounded two players and powerfully struck into the bottom corner to win the game for Latics.
Scunthorpe United: Gilks, Wallace (Townsend 73’), Ojo, Morris, Bishop, Hopper (McGeehan 87’), Adelakun (Williams 64’), Holmes, Burgess, McArdle, Yates.
Subs not used: Watson, Goode, Lewis, Sutton.
Oldham Athletic: Placide, Dummiga, Bryan, Gerrard, Moimbe, Fane, Gardner, Pringle (McEleney 58’), Byrne, Nazon (Holloway 62’), Davies (Doyle 62’).
Subs not used: De La Paz, Wilson, Hunt, McLaughlin.
Goals: Scunthorpe United 0-2 Oldham Athletic (McEleney 78’, Doyle 83’)
Attendance: 3,715