OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1, BRADFORD CITY 2
Oldham Athletic failed to build on the impressive home win against Peterborough as four days later they were beaten at home by promotion-chasing Bradford City.
Though Latics had recorded back-to-back home games against Gillingham and Posh, this was a sixth home loss in Sky Bet League One.
And in fairness, Latics could have no complaints as they failed to reproduce the level of performance from midweek.
Romain Vincelot gave the Bantams the lead, Brian Wilson equalised for Latics, but Rory McArdle came up with a winner for the visitors who had a huge following of 2,871.
Manager John Sheridan unsurprisingly stuck with the same side that kicked off against Posh.
Former Latics’ player Timothee Dieng had two strikes in the first 10 minutes, the first fizzed wide and the second also didn’t trouble keeper Colin Doyle.
Latics, who made most of the early running, were hit with a sucker punch after 14 minutes as Bradford City took the lead.
A short corner was played to Josh Cullen who found Romaine Vincelot who headed beyond keeper Connor Ripley.
Bradford almost made it two as Tony McMahon raced past two defenders but Ripley saved the day.
Latics were convinced they should have been awarded a penalty after 27 minutes. Ousmane Fane and Billy Clarke collided in the penalty area, but the referee waved away the protests.
Bradford felt they had doubled their lead after 36 minutes as McArdle headed past Ripley but the linesman flagged for offside.
That seemed to kick Latics into action and they finished the half the better of the two teams.
And they were level a minute before the break as Wilson scored in fortuitous circumstances. The right back picked the ball up on the half way line, burst forward, cut inside and his tame effort bobbled over goalkeeper Doyle.
Bradford started the second half the brighter and Latics had to thank Ripley for keeping the scores level.
He denied Jordy Hiwula with his feet from close range after the striker got behind Peter Clarke and Anthony Gerrard and minutes later he made a great save to stop Cullen from putting the Bantams back ahead.
It was all the visitors at the start of the second half as Latics struggled to get hold of the ball.
However, on the hour, Ryan McLaughlin managed to get himself free on the left hand side, he cut inside but Doyle kept out his effort.
Bradford were denied again as Banks was forced to clear the ball off the line while, from the rebound, Ripley managed to save Clarke’s point-blank header.
Ripley again made a save to deny Vincelot after 65 minutes but a minute later Latics almost caught the visitors on the breakaway.
It all came from excellent work from Aaron Amadi-Holloway who won the ball, took it around three players and played in McLaughlin, but his curled effort went wide of Doyle’s post.
The visitors hit the winner with 14 minutes left. After a scramble in the penalty box, Vincelot headed goalwards and it was central defender McArdle who manage to force it home at the far post.
Latics needed a response and almost found an equaliser after 83 minutes after Banks’ header found substitute Billy Mckay but his shot was well saved by Doyle.
Athletic pushed until the end of the game as Clarke’s header was saved by the goalkeeper but it was the Bantams who came away with the victory.
Latics (4-1-2-2): Ripley; Wilson, Gerrard, Clarke, Reckord; Fane; Banks (Hunt 83), Green, Flynn (Mckay 61), McLaughlin (Ngoo 84), Holloway. Subs (not used): Kettings, Law, Edmundson, Erwin.
Goals: Wilson (44) for Latics. Vincelot (14), McArdle (76)
Attendance: 6,516 (2,871 visiting supporters)