• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Manchester Football

A website about football in Manchester

You are here: Home / Match Report / Loan star Connor Wilkinson fires struggling Oldham Athletic to victory at Crewe Alexandra

Loan star Connor Wilkinson fires struggling Oldham Athletic to victory at Crewe Alexandra

March 21, 2015 by Tony Bugby

CREWE ALEXANDRA 0, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1

Conor Wilkinson came off the bench to score the goal which earned Oldham Athletic victory at Crewe Alexandra as they ended a dismal spell.

The on-loan striker provided some much-needed cheer with his third goal for the club as Latics arrived at the Alexandra Stadium having lost six of their previous seven games.

And with nine players ruled out through injury, it was another challenge for caretaker manager Dean Holden.

But the makeshift side showed spirit to earn three much-needed points which leaves Sky Bet League One survival tantalisingly close as one more win ought to be suffice as they climbed back to 13th place in the table.

It was a great day for teenage goalkeeper Joel Coleman, deputising for the injured Jake Kean, as he kept a clean sheet on his debut while debut-making centre back Anthony Gerrard, on loan from Huddersfield Town, also did his part in helping achieve a shutout.

Latics, who had a 737 following, almost achieved lift off after five minutes when Rhys Turner, who scored his first goal for the club in midweek, broke free only to see his shot tipped wide by former keeper Paul Rachubka.

Nicky Ajose, who scored both of Crewe’s goals in the 2-1 victory at SportsDirect.com Park on Boxing Day, went close after 10 minutes as his chip narrowly cleared the crossbar.

Top scorer Jonathan Forte had a chance from inside the six-yard box, but could not convert while Turner, justifying being preferred to Wilkinson, header just over in a lively start to the game.

Coleman didn’t have a lot to do, though he dashed from his line to make a vital block to deny the dangerous Ajose.

Latics had another good chance, but Rachubka did well to keep out Danny Philliskirk’s goal attempt.

Crewe had a strong penalty shout following Adam Lockwood’s challenge on Marcus Haber, but it was waved away to the relief of Latics.

Coleman was called into action against just before the hour when he tipped over a shot from former Latics’ loanee Anthony Grant.

Wilkinson replaced Turner midway through the second period to partner Forte.

Coleman saved well again with 20 minutes left to keep out a James Jones shot which took a sizeable deflection which wrong-footed the keeper who did well to save on his line.

The breakthrough came after 74 minutes after Philliskirk’s initial shot was parried by Rachubka. Forte latched on to the loose ball and found Philliskirk who set up Wilkinson who slotted home from inside the box.

Latics could have had a second goal when Luke Woodland’s goalbound shot was blocked with 10 minutes left.

Crewe put Latics under immense pressure late on without seriously threatening to draw level with Gerrard proving a calming influence and pillar of strength at the back as Holden secured his second win in temporary charge.

Filed Under: Match Report, Oldham Athletic Tagged With: Crewe Alexandra, Rhys Turner

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Altrincham
  • Ashton United
  • Curzon Ashton
  • Europe
  • FA Cup
  • Hyde United
  • International
  • League Cup
  • Manchester City
  • Manchester City Women
  • Manchester United
  • Manchester United Women
  • Match Report
  • Melbourne City FC
  • Mossley
  • New York City FC
  • Non League
  • North West
  • Oldham Athletic
  • Premier League
  • Salford City
  • Stockport County
  • Stretford Paddock
  • UEFA Champions League
  • Uncategorized

Manchester Football

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

RSS Manchesterfootball Youtube

  • Pep's Man City snubbed by Julia Roberts who went to see Man Utd instead
    manchesterfootball
  • Man City vs RB Leipzig Lightshow and booing of Champions League anthem Tuesday March 14 2023 4K
    manchesterfootball
  • When Julia Roberts came to Manchester she went to see United! - Pep on Erling Haaland's 5 goals
    manchesterfootball

RSS BBC Football News

  • Premier League quiz: Can you name these seven players? March 23, 2023
    Think you know your Premier League players? Well now you can prove it by taking our picture quiz every weekday.
  • Man Utd takeover latest: Finnish entrepreneur Thomas Zilliacus says he has made bid for club March 23, 2023
    Finnish entrepreneur Thomas Zilliacus says he has submitted a bid to buy Manchester United.
  • Man Utd takeover: Sir Jim Ratcliffe & Sheikh Jassim to submit new bids as deadline extended amid confusion March 23, 2023
    Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim are set to submit new bids to buy Manchester United after the deadline was extended.
  • Premier League domestic flights: BBC Sport research shows 81 flights from 100 games March 23, 2023
    BBC Sport research shows the scale of short domestic flights to and from games involving Premier League teams from 100 fixtures in 2023.

Search Manchester Football

Copyright © 2023 · Metro Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in