OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2, BURY 1
Substitute Aaron Amadi-Holloway scored an injury-time winner as Oldham Athletic posted a derby win against Bury to extend Richie Wellens’ run to seven games as interim and permanent manager.
It looked as though Latics would have to settle for a point until Amadi-Holloway struck in the last of three minutes of added time to continue the great revival under Wellens.
Latics had taken the lead through Eoin Doyle’s 10th goal of the season only for Tom Aldred to equaliser early in the second half.
Wellens named an unchanged side to the one that kicked off the 4-4 draw at Milton Keynes Dons three days earlier.
Latics made a bright start in which Doyle was denied by a super stop by keeper Leo Fasan and it was no surprise when they took the lead midway through the opening period.
And it had to be dangerman Doyle who rounded off a magical move. Dan Gardner played a one-two in midfield, the ball fell to Craig Davies who released Doyle who made no mistake from 12 yards, firing into the bottom corner.
Latics had chances to build on their advantage as Gardner twice, Davies and Queensy Menig all went close.
Five minutes before the break, Jay O’Shea curled a free kick over the crossbar as Bury went close to an equaliser as they repeated it in stoppage time when Chris Humphrey’s effort was superbly saved by Johny Placide.
It was a disastrous start to the second half for Latics as Bury equalised after only 90 seconds when Aldred headed home a cross from O’Shea.
The visitors had the momentum and almost took the lead through a long-range effort from Rohan Ince but the midfielder’s effort hit the top of the goal.
Jermaine Beckford curled an effort goalwards on the hour mark while seconds later, Fasan made a great save from Latics’ Jack Byrne.
Abdelhakim Omrani replaced Menig on the hour mark for Latics as they looked to retain possession better in midfield.
However, it was Bury who again went close soon after as substitute Mikai Dobre fired goalwards from 25 yards but Placide again saved the day.
Latics dominated and had the better chances in the final 20 minutes as Byrne and Davies twice went close.
Wellens made two changes in the final five minutes of the game as Holloway and Paul Green replaced Byrne and Davies
With time running out for Latics, Green went close to the winner two minutes into additional time as he headed wide, however, Latics found the winner in the final minute of stoppage time.
After an unbelievable save from Placide at one end, he fired a long clearance to Holloway who took the ball in his path and volleyed into the top corner to win the game in the most dramatic manner imaginable.
Oldham Athletic (4-1-3-2): Placide; Dummigan, Clarke, Bryan, Hunt; Fane; Byrne (Green 87), Gardner, Menig (Omrani 60); Davies (Holloway 87), Doyle. Subs (not used): Ruddy, Wilson, Gerrard, Flynn.
Goals: Doyle, (24), Holloway, (90+3) for Oldham. Aldred, (47), for Bury 2-1 Bury.
Attendance: 5,183 (752 visitors)