WALSALL 2, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0
Oldham Athletic must have wished they could have summoned help from Superman who was in the crowd at Walsall where they slipped to defeat in Sky Bet League One.
As is tradition for the final away game of the season, fans headed for the Banks’s Stadium in fancy dress in what is always a colourful spectacle.
Indeed, looking at the creativeness of the fans was far more eventful than this drab match in which a first-half double from Tom Bradshaw – two goals in a six-minute spell – earned the Saddlers victory.
And Latics can have no complaints as they went down with a whimper in a game which had a distinct end-of-season feel about it.
It was clear from the kick off that Latics were in for a difficult afternoon and Bradshaw could have opened the scoring in the opening five minutes had goalkeeper Joel Coleman not tipped away his shot.
The breakthrough came in the 18th minute when Walsall scored after a breakaway from a corner by Latics, though there was a hint that Bradshaw was offside before he netted.
The afternoon got worse for Oldham six minutes later when looked to have won the ball inside the box only for referee David Sheldrake to point to the spot claiming he had fouled Mal Benning.
Bradshaw sent Coleman the wrong way from the spot as Latics were left facing an uphill struggle.
It took Latics half an hour before mustering their first goal attempt, a shot by Danny Philliskirk from the edge of the box that was easily saved by keeper Craig MacGillivray.
Latics claimed they ought to have been awarded a spot kick late in the half when the ball struck the arm of Ben Purkiss, but the referee waved away the protests.
Latics made a change at the break as Carl Winchester replaced Timothee Dieng as they lined up in a more attacking formation.
And they began the second period more positively and could have scored from Kelly’s inswinging corner which caused chaos in the home defence, but Philliskirk was unable to apply the finishing touch.
Walsall ought to have added a third on the hour, but Kelly saved the day with a last-gasp tackle of Jordy Hiwula.
Jordan Bove and Rhys Murphy were given the final hour to try and provide the cutting edge Latics lacked as they replaced Dominic Poleon and Rhys Turner.
It failed to work and Walsall should have again added a third goal in the last minute when Coleman stood up well to deny Manchester City loanee Hiwula and prevent an even heavier loss.