OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0, PORTSMOUTH 2
Oldham Athletic suffered a first defeat in six matches as they lost at home against Portsmouth to remain perilously close to the relegation places in Sky Bet League One.
It was a disappointing afternoon at wintery Boundary Park as Latics were beaten by out-of-form Pompey who had lost four of their previous five games to derail their promotion push.
And Latics were unlucky that Pompey’s prized striker Brett Pitman chose this match for his return after injury as he netted two first-half goals that proved decisive.
Latics tried their best to claw their way back into the game, but Pompey defended superbly to keep them at bay.
Manager Richie made three changes to the side that drew at Bury last weekend as Eoin Doyle came in for his first start since December and Ryan McLaughlin also started after he, too, has had an injury-plagued campaign.
Anthony Gerrard had not recovered from the injury picked up early in the game at Bury as Brian Wilson again stood in for Latics’ captain.
Craig Davies felt he should have been awarded a spot kick early into the game but the referee remained unmoved while at the other end Kal Naismith headed over from 10 yards.
Good work by Cameron Dummigan created Latics’ first real attempt on goal as he nicked the ball off Naismith on the half way line, raced at the defence, but he fired wide.
The first real clear-cut chance of the game came after 20 minutes. Davies slipped the ball through to Doyle whose outstretched leg connected with the ball but goalkeeper Luke McGee managed to make the save.
Latics had a lucky escape midway though the half when Jack Whatmough’s header from a corner was cleared off the line Wilfried Moimbe.
The visitors took the lead just before the half hour through Pitman. The striker rose highest from a cross from Conor Ronan as his header beat keeper Johny Placide.
The goal came against the run of play and gave the visitors a lift and they extended their lead after 42 minutes.
It was an error in the defence that led to the goal as the ball ended up at the feet of Pitman who rolled the ball into an empty goal.
Latics needed a response after the break and almost got a goal back in the first minute.
After Davies was fouled on the edge of the box, Kean Bryan stepped up but McGee made a good save to deny the defender.
Wellens made changes in a bid to get back into the game and brought on Patrick McEleney and Aaron Amadi-Holloway to add to their firepower.
However, the game was to be stopped just after the hour mark for eight minutes as the conditions became unplayable due to the blizzard.
When play resumed, Latics had a number of chances to get back into the game.
Doyle had an effort saved after 73 minutes, while his best effort was to come minutes later.
He met a cross into the box, volleyed sweetly at goal but McGee turned his effort over the crossbar.
Duckens Nazon was introduced and immediately made an impact as he twisted and turned on the edge of the box but his effort was again saved by McGee.
Latics had to be wary of the counter attack as Naismith knocked the ball beyond Placide but Dummigan was back on the line to clear the danger.
Deep into additional time, Pompey could have extended their lead further but Jamal Lowe’s effort hit the post on an afternoon to forget for Latics.
Oldham (4-4-2): Placide; Dummigan, Wilson, Bryan, Moimbe (Nazon 80); McLaughlin (McEleney 55), Fane, Gardner, Byrne; Davies (Amadi-Holloway 58), Doyle. Subs (not used): De La Paz, Edmundson, Hunt, Pringle.
Goals: Pitman (29), (42) for Portsmouth.
Attendance: 4,306 (767 visitors)