MORECAMBE 0, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2
Chris O’Grady and Gevaro Nepomuceno may have gained the acclaim for Oldham Athletic’s first away win of the season in Sky Bet League Two, but Frank Bunn’s side had another hero.
Leicester City loanee goalkeeper Daniel Iversen deserves as many, if not more plaudits, because without his series of super saves, Latics would not have collected three points.
There was still no Sam Surridge and Giles Coke after the pair were also absentees in the midweek goalless draw at Yeovil Town where Ishmael Miller was also hurt.
That meant a first start of the season for Jose Baxter who had been hurt in the first pre-season game, Baxter for Miller being the only change from midweek.
Latics, with a 1,638 following that was bigger than the home contingent, weren’t troubled in an uneventful opening that saw both defences on top.
Morecambe had the first chance after a quick free kick caught out Latics, but Rhys Oates could only find the side netting.
The game suddenly came to life after Latics scored two goals in as many minutes through O’Grady and Nepomuceno.
Morecambe couldn’t defend a Rob Hunt cross and O’Grady volleyed home past Mark Halstead in the host’s goal in the 27th minute.
Hunt also provided the assist ball for the second goal as his cross was headed into the air by Zak Mills and Nepomuceno reacted quickest to smash it into the net.
Morecambe almost halved the deficit as Josef Yarney rose highest from a corner, but Iversen saved brilliantly low to his right.
Latics had to dig deep in the second half and Bunn was thankful for the form of Iversen in goal.
Liam Mandeville cut inside from the left and forced another great save from the Dane, diving to his left.
Latics almost added had a third when an Andy Taylor free kick whipped in from the right resulted in a goalmouth scramble, but somehow it ended up cleared away when it looked set to be a goal.
AJ Leitch-Smith found himself one-on-one moments later after a mistake from Peter Clarke, but Iversen spread himself well to deny the striker.
Then came the moment of the game and an unbelievable piece of goalkeeping from Iversen.
The ball came in from the left onto the head of substitute Kevin Ellison about two yards out and Iversen somehow manged to tip it away low to his right to the astonishment of the Morecambe fans.
Latics held on to take all three points and extend their unbeaten run to four league games.
Latics (4-4-1-1): Iversen; Hunt, Edmundson, Clarke, Taylor: Branger-Engone (Graham 46), Gardner, Missilou (Maouche 83), Nepomuceno; Baxter (Lang 63); O’Grady. Subs (not used): de la Paz, Benteke, Stott, Hamer.
Goals: O’Grady (27), Nepomuceno (29) for Latics.
Attendance: 3,050 (1,638 visitors)