Latics exited the FA Cup at the hands of Newport County in south Wales.
In a game when Latics never really got going, Shane McLoughlin opened the scoring with a tidy finish inside the box.
As the visitors struggled to get a grip on the game, the Exiles added a second with just over ten minutes to go, to secure the tie.
Oldham came into this game with new ‘keeper Dan Langley replacing the injured Norman on the bench, and Brennan Dickenson making his return in place of Green who had a hamstring tweak.
Athletic had an early chance thanks to the great work of Norwood, he followed up Scot Bennett’s sloppy back-pass, and looked the chip Townsend in between the sticks, but the shot didn’t trouble him.
The opening goal would come at the other end, and it came after some fantastic passing from the hosts.
A wonderful diagonal ball was received by Matthew Bondswell, whose defence-splitting cross found McLoughlin in the area, who tapped home.
Mellon opted to make a change after half an hour, swapping Brennan Dickenson for Liam Hogan.
Oldham’s best chance of the game arguably came just before the break, Lundstram’s long ball reached Nuttall, who forced the ‘keeper to make a superb save to deny him from inside the box.
Norwood’s workrate saw him create another chance out of thin air early in the second-half, he dispossessed the Newport defence and set himself up to get a shot away in a good position, just for Delaney to make a vital tackle.
Mellon sought to change things around up top with thirty minutes to play, as Alex Reid came on in place of Joe Nuttall.
Reid had an immediate impact, controlling and bringing down Hobson’s superb pass from the back, before getting a shot away on the half-volley.
Latics were chasing the game, and succumbed to a second goal, again from McLoughlin.
He received the ball from Wildig, setting himself up for a powerful shot from 30 yards, which beat Hudson and sent Newport through to round two.
Oldham: Hudson, Kitching, Hobson, Lundstram, Nuttall (Reid, 57’), Sheron (Gardner, 86’), McGahey, Hope, Dickenson (Hogan, 32’), Freeman, Norwood (Fondop, 86’).
Subs not used: Langley, Raglan, Shelton, Ward, Willoughby.
