Oldham Athletic fell to a home defeat as they were beaten 0-2 by Portsmouth.
Brett Pitman netted two first half goals to secure Pompey the win on an afternoon to forget for Latics.
The conditions did not help proceedings and Athletic did try their best to get back into the game but they were met by a stubborn Portsmouth defence.
That defeat signalled the end of the five game unbeaten run.
Manager Richie made two changes to the side which drew with Bury last weekend as Eoin Doyle came in for his first start since Doncaster Rovers in December and Ryan McLaughlin also started the fixture.
It was a quiet opening to the game with both sides struggling to create clear cut goalscoring opportunities.
Craig Davies felt he should have been awarded a spot kick early into the game but the referee remained unmoved, however, at the other end, Kal Naismith headed over from 10 yards.
Good work by Cameron Dummigan created Athletic’s first real attempt on goal as he nicked the ball off Naismith on the half way line, raced at the defence and shot but he fired wide.
The first real clear cut chance of the game came on 20 minutes. Craig Davies slipped the ball through to Eoin Doyle whose outstretched leg connected with the ball but the goalkeeper managed to make the save.
Latics had to be wary midway though the half as Jack Whatmough met a corner into the box with his head but Wilfried Moimbe managed to clear the ball off the line.
The visitors took the lead just before the half hour mark through Pitman. The striker rose highest from a cross into the box from Conor Ronan and it beat Johny Placide to put Pompey ahead.
The goal came against the run of play but it did give the visitors a lift and they did go on to extend their lead on 42 minutes.
It was an error in the defence that led to the goal as the ball ended up at the feet of Pitman who rolled the ball into an empty goal to extend Portsmouth’s lead going into half time.
Latics needed a response after the break and almost got a goal back in the first minute of the second half.
After Davies was fouled on the edge of the box, Kean Bryan stepped up but Luke McGee made a good save to deny the defender.
Wellens made changes in a bid to get back into the game and brought on Patrick McEleney and Aaron Holloway to add to their fire power in attack.
However, the game was to be stopped just after the hour mark for eight minutes as the conditions at Boundary Park took a turn for the worst.
When play resumed, Athletic did have a number of chances to get back into the game.
Doyle had an effort saved on 73 minutes, whilst his best effort was to come minutes later.
He met a cross into the box, volleyed sweetly at goal but McGee managed to palm his effort over the crossbar.
Athletic were met by a stubborn Pompey defence and struggled to break down their defensive walls.
Duckens Nazon was introduced and immediately made an impact as he twisted and turned on the edge of the box but his effort was again saved by McGee.
Latics had to be wary of the counter attack as Naismith managed to knock the ball beyond Placide but Dummigan was back on the line to clear the danger.
Deep into additional time, Pompey could have extended their lead further but Lowe’s effort smashed against the post on an afternoon to forget for Latics.
Oldham Athletic: Placide, Dummigan, Wilson, Bryan, Moimbe (Nazon 80’), McLaughlin (McEleney 55’), Fane, Gardner, Byrne, Davies (Amadi-Holloway 58’), Doyle.
Subs not used: De La Paz, Edmundson, Hunt, Pringle.
Portsmouth: McGee, Walkes, Clarke, Pitman, Ronan, Whatmough, Donohue, Lowe, Naismith, Close, Haunstrup.
Subs not used: Bass, Burgess, Kennedy, Chaplin, Deslandes, May, Widdrington.
Goals: Oldham Athletic 0-2 Portsmouth (Pitman 29’, 42’)
Attendance: 4,306 (767 visiting supporters)