Latics 1-0 Shrewsbury Town

Latics put in another impressive performance against opposition from the Football League with a 1-0 win over Shrewsbury Town at Boundary Park intheir final pre-season outing.

Having already picking up a win over Stockport as well as earning a draw against Lincoln in previous pre-season warm-ups, Latics were hoping to put in another strong home showing against another EFL League One side.

Micky Mellon’s side went about it the right way and started the game well in the early stages with some quick, passing football on show. Jes Uchegbulam looked lively from the off and three minutes in had his first half-chance. Oli Hammond’s cross from the right side was tipped to the back post by Toby Savin, but Uchegbulam was unable to get the ball under control.

Three minutes later, the winger had another chance which was a carbon copy of the first at the back post, but his attempt to direct the ball goalwards was unsuccessful and went behind for a goal-kick.

Oldham’s strong start paid off, as Latics found the breakthrough via Mike Fondop in the 22nd Minute. A quick breakaway almost saw the striker be the creator when his pass allowed Harry Charsley to go in one-on-one and round the ‘keeper, before squeezing an effort onto the post. Fondop was johnny-on-the-spot to fire the ball home from close range and give Latics a deserved lead.

Fondop came close to scoring his and Oldham’s second of the game just five minutes later. Uchegbulam ran down the left, standing up a Shrewsbury defender before finding Fondop in the box. Oldham’s number nine was unable to generate enough power on the header to trouble Savin in the Shrewsbury goal.

From the resulting restart, Latics were denied what looked to be a clear penalty. Tom Conlon was hooked down in the area after the visitors surrendered possession in their own box, but the referee waved play on. Shrewsbury countered down the other end, where Jordan Shipley put in a dangerous cross towards Tom Bloxham who fired over the bar.

Shrewsbury went close to levelling in the 34 th minute, when Tommi O’Reilly picked up the ball on the edge of the box. His central strike was curling to the top-right corner, but Hudson was there to pull off a stretching, diving save to deny the Shrewsbury number 29.

Fondop had another opportunity just before the break when he found space as a freekick was flicked on. He was unable to control his strike and add to Oldham’s lead as an impressive first half came to an end as Latics went into the break 1-0 up against their opponents from League One.

Oldham had the first real chance of the first half on 56 minutes, when Uchegbulam drove into the box on the left-hand side and feinted past a Shrewsbury defender before pulling the ball back to Conlon whose shot was blocked.

Two minutes later, Shrewsbury went close to equalising when O’Reilly went through on goal. Dan Gardner claimed for a foul as he played the ball across towards his own box which was intercepted by O’Reilly, leaving the Shrewsbury attacker with just the ‘keeper to beat, but he dragged his shot wide.

Paul Hurst’s side again came close in the 66 th minute, when Shipley was free inside the Latics penalty area. His low drive from left produced a fine stop from Hudson, diving down to his left side.

It opened up just inside the area for Hammond in the 72 nd minute, but he couldn’t catch his shot cleanly and sent his effort over the bar.

Mellon’s men almost made certain of a win in the 86 th minute when Alex Reid stooped in at the near post. The substitute saw his header saved by Savin. Latics kept the pressure on towards the end before the whistle went to confirm another clean sheet and another 1-0 against League One opposition.

Oldham | Hudson, Hobson, Raglan, Monthe, Ogle (Sutton 84), Conlon ©, (Doro 82), Gardner (Lundstram 66), Uchegbulam (Kitching 62), Hammond,
Charsley, Fondop.

Subs: Trialist (GK), Kitching (Uchegbulam 62), Hogan, Lundstram (Gardner 66), Sutton (Ogle 84), Doro (Conlon 82), Moore, Reid (Fondop 71), Trialist (Charsley 71).

Shrewsbury | Savin, Hoole, Benning, Rossiter (Lloyd 77), Feeney (Pierre 45), Winchester © (Perry 77), Bloxham (Biggins 45), Nsiala, Shipley (Trialist B 77), Marquis, O’Reilly.

Subs: Young, Biggins (Bloxham 45), Lloyd (Rossiter 77), Kayode (Marquis 69), Perry (Winchester 77), Pierre (Feeney 45), Trialist A, Trialist B (Shipley 77).

Referee: Will Davis

Attendance: 1247 (193 away)