Latics suffered their second defeat in a week as goals from Jayden Richardson, Matt Jay, Archie Collins, Ryan Bowman and Brennan Dickenson sealed the win for Exeter City on a cold Tuesday night in Devon.
It was the visitors who came close early on as in the 5th minute the dangerous Jonny Smith cut inside from the right-wing before unleashing a curling effort towards goal, but Lewis Ward was just about equal to it as he palmed the strike away from the target.
Latics continued to pressurise the hosts’ as Johan Branger-Engone dribbled inside with the ball before passing to Tom Hamer outside the box and it set up nicely for the right-back to strike and his dipping attempt went just over the crossbar.
However, Exeter made the breakthrough after a slick passing move ended with Matt Jay slotting Richardson clean through on goal although Zeus De La Paz raced out of his goal the defender managed to lob over the goalkeeper into the back of the net.
Just moments later, Dino Maamria’s side were level as Latics took a short corner which saw Smith deliver a cross into the box and after a scramble in the area, the captain led by example as he attacked the ball to head in an equaliser.
Oldham came close to taking the lead in the 27th minute as Branger-Engone nearly caught the goalkeeper out from a free-kick out wide before Danny Rowe blasted the rebound back towards goal, but Ward pulls off a good save to deny the frontman.
Exeter restored their lead just before the interval as Williams’ strike was destined for the back of the net before Wheater handled it on the line and the referee awarded the Grecians a penalty and gave Wheater a straight red card. Jay stepped up and kept his cool to send De La Paz the wrong way.
The Grecians raced out of the blocks in the second half as they extended their lead as Collins blasted a strike from range at goal and De La Paz could only palm the ball into the net.
Collins wasn’t finished there as his cross into the box in the 60th minute found Bowman and the striker’s looping header managed to sneak into the far corner to give his side breathing space.
Following this, neither side could create a clear-cut chance, however, Latics did have the ball in the back of the net courtesy of Missilou, but the referee ruled the goal out for another handball.
In the last minute Exeter rubbed more salt into the wound with a fifth and final goal in the last minute as the substitute left-wing back Dickenson converted direct from the free-kick as his effort evaded everyone and nestled into the corner.
Oldham last beat Exeter in December 2009 so this result sees the Grecians go nine unbeaten against Latics.
Exeter City 5-1 Oldham Athletic.
Attendance 3,527 (74 Away).
Exeter City XI – Ward, Sweeney, Atangana, Martin, Williams (Dickenson 71’), Bowman (Fisher 63’), Ajose, Parkes (Moxey 28’), Jay, Richardson, Collins ©.
Subs – Arthur, Martin, Holmes, Fisher, Moxey, Dickenson, Taylor.
Oldham Athletic XI – De La Paz, Hamer, Wheater ©, Piergianni, Borthwick-Jackson, Missilou, Sylla (N’Guessan 58’), Smith, McCann, Branger-Engone (Mills 44’), Rowe (Dieseruvwe 69’).
Subs – Allen, Maouche, Wilson, Nepomuceno, N’Guessan, Mills, Dieseruvwe.
Referee – Keith Stroud.