The National League schedule continues to ramp up for Oldham as they play their third fixture in a week when they visit York City.
A dominant 3-1 win at Maidenhead United at the weekend secured consecutive victories for Latics in league action, whilst it definitively put to bed their brief dip in form after going winless against Woking and Ebbsfleet.
Mike Fondop continued his good form in front of goal for Micky Mellon notching an instinctive brace that saw his tally rise to seven for the season, following on from his strike in the win last week against Boreham Wood.
Mellon will be pleased to see his side firing once again, his acceptance after the win at Boundary Park seven days ago to revert to a more direct, gritty outfit certainly saw this Oldham side reap their rewards at York Road.
They have now won six of their last eight, scoring 13 times and conceding just five, marking the improvements defensively Athletic have made under the Scotsman where since the win at Solihull in mid-December, Latics have conceded fewer on average per game (0.8).
Oldham have imposed their will particularly on the road this campaign, having gone seven unbeaten away, winning six. Mellon will hope his men can continue in that vein at the York Community Stadium.
The Opposition
York meanwhile have endured an inconsistent month and a half in 2024 so far. Two wins, two draws and two defeats perhaps leaves York unsure of what to make of their progress.
A 1-1 draw with Dagenham & Redbridge ensured York remained clear of the drop zone for now, though it concluded a potentially decisive four-game run come the end of the season.
The North Yorkshire outfit along with Dagenham faced Maidenhead, Southend and Dorking consecutively, winning only at Southend, though that particular result could be a crucial one for Neal Ardley’s side.
York’s home turf meanwhile will host yet another opportunity to improve a worrying record. Collecting just 17 points at the York Community Stadium this season beats only Woking at home, whilst the inform side in the league away from home seeks to pile on more misery.
Ardley and his men could rely on an intriguing statistic ahead of the meeting. York have scored most of their goals at home in the first half, whilst Latics have conceded a larger share in the first half on the road. An omen or not, it is certainly something to keep an eye on.
Key Threat
A recently returned loanee at any club typically finds it difficult to readjust, particularly if that player has been at three different clubs in the space of five months.
Finlay Barnes meanwhile looks like an individual who no matter what environment, can show his qualities, even if they are obvious to see. The 23-year-old is a rare player, who York should continue to utilise.
The midfielder certainly finished his most recent spell away from the York Community Stadium strongly, scoring twice in successive games for National League North side Scarborough Athletic.
He meanwhile has had to be patient since his return, making late consecutive appearances from the bench against Hartlepool and Maidenhead, though he has certainly made an impression on boss Ardley where he has since started twice.
Barnes has excellent quality, especially in advanced midfield areas where he can utilise his quick feet and sharp decision making. His ball carrying ability and touch on the half-turn make him a real issue for midfields, and Oldham’s will be no different.
His finishing prowess, though rare, was shown at Scarborough. A terrific finish for his first goal for the club a clear example of what he can do, though Mellon and his Latics side will look to snuff out his danger quickly.
In the dugout
Now in his fourth managerial position in his career, Ardley now sits in a new seat with new challenges to encounter since he replaced Michael Morton in September last year, where the club had gone winless in their first six in 2023/24.
Ardley’s experience meanwhile immediately showed, ending that run in just his second fixture in the 3-0 win over Southend, and he has secured some impressive feats in his short time with York.
The club’s exploits in the FA Cup this season can be a proud moment for this group to take forward, knocking off Chester FC in the first round before being edged out by Wigan Athletic after a spirited performance.
And despite a sub-par record at the York Community Stadium, Ardley has led his side to some impressive results against the National League heavyweights this season.
Holding both Solihull and Bromley to 2-2 draws should be appreciated, with each side having occupied a spot in the top four for much of the campaign whilst a triumphant evening over Gateshead to kick off 2024 perhaps the pick of the bunch.
It will require time and patience, though Ardley has already brought spirit and fight to this York side. It's a team who certainly don’t back down, no less at home, where Oldham will have to be on their game to secure a third successive league win.
Match Details
The referee will be James Westgate, whilst the assistants are Steven Lawson and Wayne Cooper. The fourth official is set to be Jamie Rhodes.
Match coverage and information
Live audio commentary is available on Latics Player, guiding you through the match.
For more information, visit the Latics Player page by clicking here.
Alternatively, supporters can also follow the game with live updates on the club's official Twitter account: @OfficialOAFC
As this game is not being played within the blocked broadcast hours stipulated by UEFA, live streaming will be available through National League TV for supporters in the UK and overseas.
Matchday passes are available for £9.50, with further details here.
As always, we will endeavour to ensure confirmation of the line-up is published as soon as possible on social media.
However, supporters should note that team sheets in the National League are not exchanged until an hour before kick-off. This is 15 minutes later than in the EFL and as a result, the line-up is likely to be published slightly later than in previous seasons.