Latics nearly mount a late comeback but were left frustrated as Morecambe earn all three-points in the early kick-off.
After back-to-back emphatic victories against Crawley Town and Colchester United, Keith Curle kept his trust in his players as he named an unchanged team for the trip to promotion-chasing Morecambe.
Derek Adams’ side found themselves ahead just five minutes into the game as Kelvin Mellor floated a ball over the top of Latics’ backline which Carlos Mendes Gomes raced onto the pass and, from a tight angle, smashed into the far bottom corner.
The visitors began to get a foothold in the encounter and should’ve scored when Conor McAleny dribbled down the left-wing, beating the defender before delivering a low cross to Davis Keillor-Dunn inside the six-yard box, but the attacker was denied by former Latics trialist Kyle Letheren in the Morecambe goal.
Moments later, Dylan Bahamboula sprinted to byline before pulling it back to McAleny and he struck goalwards, however, Mellor blocked off the line to the frustration of the Latics dugout.
Morecambe should’ve doubled their advantage as Liam Gibson powered his way down the left flank and his deflected cross fell into the path of Cole Stockton, but from around the penalty spot, he slotted wide of the target.
In the 39th minute, Latics found an equaliser when Kyle Jameson produced an impressive long pass over the top to the onrushing McAleny and he kept composed to chip over the goalkeeper to notch his 20th goal of the season in all competitions.
However, the hosts restored their lead within minutes as Mendes Gomes produced fine work down the left before crossing low into the box which was met by Aaron Wildig and he steered into the bottom corner to make it two in two against Latics.
In the first-half added time, Morecambe scored another through Stockton. Wildig flicked the ball to the target man and he found room inside the box to fire past Walker and into the back of the net.
Shortly into the second interval, the Shrimps managed to make it four as Mendes Gomes got his second of the game. Former Leeds United midfielder Toumani Diagouraga had great vision to slot the attacker one-on-one with the goalkeeper and he kept his cool to place his strike into the bottom corner.
With just over ten minutes left in the game, the boys in blue pulled a goal back as substitute Nicky Adams delivered a corner into the box which eluded everyone apart from Cameron Borthwick-Jackson at the back post and the left-back tapped into the goal to give his side a bit of hope.
Latics got another with two minutes to go as, once again, Adams delivered an excellent corner, and it was met by the leaping Jameson and the central defender managed to flick his header into the far corner to gather more belief for Curle’s men.
Oldham looked to find an equaliser in the late stages, however, Morecambe managed to stand strong to earn their third win over Latics this season.
Morecambe XI – Letheren (GK), Mellor, Knight-Percival, Lavelle ©, Diagouraga, Stockton (Hendrie 92’), Wildig (Lyons 83’), Mendes Gomes, O’Sullivan (Cooney 65’), Gibson, Songo’o.
Subs – Halstead (GK), Davis, McAlinden, Price.
Goals: Mendes Gomes 5’ 53’, Wildig 42’, Stockton 45+1’
Oldham Athletic XI – Walker (GK), Clarke (Hilssner 66’), Borthwick-Jackson, Piergianni ©, Whelan, Keillor-Dunn (Vaughan 84’), Fage (Adams 60’), Jameson, McAleny, Bahamboula (Blackwood 60’), McCalmont (Garrity 60’).
Subs – Bilboe (GK), Badan.
Goals: McAleny 39’, Borthwick-Jackson 78’, Jameson 88’
Referee – Michael Salisbury