Latics suffer another defeat against Morecambe as the Shrimps climb to the top of the league.
There were four changes to the side that beat Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Trophy in midweek which saw Zak Dearnkey, Ben Garrity, George Blackwood and Conor McAleny return.
The visitors started the clash on the front foot and nearly opened the scoring early on after a neat piece of play resulted in Carlos Mendes Gomes playing the ball inside to John O’Sullivan and the midfielder, on the edge of the box, opened up his body and let loose but Carl Piergianni deflected it just wide of the post.
From the resulting corner, central defender Harry Davis rose highest and flicked his header goalwards. His effort looked bound for the bottom corner, but Ian Lawlor did fantastically to get down and keep the score level. However, moments later the shot-stopper looked to pull a muscle but was alright to carry on.
After 25 minutes, Oldham registered their first chance of note when the physically George Blackwood flicked a long ball in the direction of Conor McAleny and he had the vision to slot the onrushing Jordan Barnett through on the left, but the youngster smashed his effort into the side netting.
Just before the interval, the Shrimps got themselves head curtesy of Aaron Wildig, who scored against Latics last month in the Carabao Cup. Right-back Ryan Cooney swung in a great delivery from the wing and it was met by Wildig’s glancing header which found its way under Lawlor and into the back of the net.
At half-time, Youth Team scholar Mackenzie Chapman was handed his professional debut as he replaced the injured Lawlor.
Harry Kewell’s side were fast out of the blocks and found an equaliser in the 51st minute as Dylan Fage’s cross found McAleny at the back post and he cut inside from the left of the box and curled his effort into the far corner.
However, it didn’t stay level for long as Morecambe regained the lead as Alex Kenyon, only yards out, headed into the top corner from close range.
It got worse for Latics when Derek Adams’ side added a third in the 64th minute. O’Sullivan was picked out on the right-wing and he raced down the flank to deliver a perfectly weighted cross onto the head of Cole Stockton and he turned home from inside the six-yard box.
The hosts looked to get back into the game with a few half chances and managed to pull a goal back on the 90th minute. Substitute Dylan Bahamboula produced a bit of skill before finding McAleny with a cross and he flicked his effort past the goalkeeper, but it was too little too late for Latics.
Oldham Athletic XI – Lawlor (GK) (Chapman (GK) 46’), Jombati (Rowe 69’), Piergianni ©, Garrity, Blackwood, Whelan, Fage, Barnett, McAleny, Dearnley (Bahamboula 51’), Hamer.
Subs –Keillor-Dunn, Grant, Jameson, Sutton.
Goals: McAleny 52’, 90’
Morecambe XI – Turner, Lavelle ©, Davis, Stockton (McAlinden 92’), Wildig, Mendes Gomes (Knight-Percival 94’), Kenyon, O’Sullivan, Phillips (Songo’o 84’), Cooney, Gibson.
Subs – Da Silva Mendes, Mellor, Knight-Percival, Slew, Pringle, McAlinden, Songo’o.
Goals: Wildig 42’, Kenyon 69’, Stockton 66’
Referee – Joshua Smith