Latics extended their unbeaten away run with a professional and solid away victory against Eastleigh.
Oldham had some great chances in the early periods of the game, so it was no surprise when Joe Garner gave Latics the lead with a silky move and finish.
That level of performance carried over into the second half, with Garner notching his second to double Latics’ lead.
Eastleigh pulled a goal back when Enzio Boldewijn’s thunderous shot gave Hudson no chance from 30 yards out, but they couldn’t find another, allowing Oldham to take home all three points.
From start to finish, Latics were dominant and in control of the game, rarely giving Eastleigh a sniff, and didn’t allow them to get a grip of the game.
Garner had a number of half-chances during the early period of the game, his first saw Joe McDonnell hold his long-range effort well, the second saw him shoot wide from a tight angle, having been played through by Harrison McGahey.
He made no mistake from the third, however.
Nathan Sheron nodded the ball back into the box after Eastleigh half-cleared a cross. Joe controlled the ball and turned around the defender, before striking the ball with precision to beat McDonnell.
Liam Hogan, dominant in the air as ever, saw his thumping header saved by McDonnell.
A brilliant 20+ pass move from Oldham, which included lots of quick passes and movement, concluded with the ball falling promisingly to Hammond, who cruelly had his shot blocked by the Eastleigh defence.
Nigel Atangana saw red for a second bookable offence, when he clipped Devarn Green less than 30 seconds into the second-half, giving Micky Mellon an advantage for the rest of the match.
The inform Fondop did well to rise high above the Eastleigh defence, but couldn’t divert his header on target, with it instead clearing the crossbar.
Mikey was then used by Garner to play the ball off him inside the area, creating a fantastic shooting opportunity, but Joe didn’t hit it sweetly, seeing his effort go over the bar.
The over 200 Latics fans behind the South Stand goal thought they’d seen Sheron pull off one of his roaring long-range strikes, but having received the ball back from his own effort, he could only put it inches wide of the goal.
That second goal Latics were chasing game, and it was thoroughly deserved.
Hogan made a run forward, playing a one-two, before giving the ball to Garner, who took a touch, knocked it off the panicking Eastleigh defender, before setting it up nicely on his right foot, beating McDonnell one-on-one.
It was a brilliant way to cap-off a superb performance, with two great goals inside the area which showcased Joe’s technical ability magnificently.
There were still twenty minutes to play, in which Latics had to maintain concentration defensively.
They did for the most part, bar allowing tricky winger, Enzio Boldewijn to cut on from the wing, punting home what was frankly a beautiful goal from over 30 yards out.
Despite that great finish, Eastleigh just did not have the quality to claw back another goal, seeing Micky Mellon’s men pick up yet another three points on the road.
Oldham: Hudson, Kitching, Hogan, Hobson, Fondop, Sheron, Green, Raglan, McGahey, Garner, Hammond.
Subs not used: Norman, Sutton, Walker.
Eastleigh: McDonnell, Atangana, Francillette, Taylor, McCallum, Langston, Hodson, Nwabuokei, Quigley (Maguire, 74’), Rutherford (Boldewijn, 64’), Greenwood (Croll, 45’).
Subs not used: Reeves, Barlow.
Referee: Sam Mulhall
Attendance: TBA
