OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0, MACCLESFIELD TOWN 1
Oldham Athletic failed to ignite their faltering Sky Bet League Two campaign in the first of back-to-back home matches in the space of three days.
The games against Macclesfield Town and Walsall, Tuesday’s visitors to Boundary Park, were viewed as ideal to kick start their season.
But after the loss to the Silkmen, and other teams at the bottom winning, Latics are only two points off last place.
And judging from head coach Dino Maamria’s downcast post-match press conference, in which he described it as his toughest job in football, you sense a long, hard winter ahead for Latics.
Maamria, whose side has not win in five games after winning his first match, spoke about trying to rid the team of “bad habits” which have plagued them for a long time.
And Maamria’s recent assertion he desperately needs a proven goalscorer was also reinforced after another toothless display.
Maamria was dealt an unkind hand against Macclesfield with Tomas Egert and Filipe Morais banned and other places missing.
There was four changes from the side beaten 6-1 at Mansfield Town, though two were enforced through suspension.
New-signing Chris McCann, the former Premier League player with Burnley, was drafted into a weakened midfield and Jamie Stott into defence.
Zeus de la Paz was preferred to Gary Woods in goal while Desire Segbe Azankpo was back from international duty to replace Spaniard Urko Vera.
It was clear in the opening period, when there wasn’t a clear-cut chance from either side, why both were near the foot of the division’s form table.
The closest Latics came to a chance was just before the interval as Mohammed Maouche laid the ball to Tom Hamer and tried his luck from distance but the ball flashed past the post.
Shortly into the second half Maamria’s side came close to breaking the deadlock when Jonny Smith’s free-kick was flicked on to Maouche but he, too, blasted his effort wide.
Macclesfield began to apply pressure and were nearly rewarded with an opening when Miles Welch-Hayes cross was cleared to Corey O’Keefe, but he was closed down before he could get a strike on goal.
In the 69th minute, it was a proud moment for scholar Lewis McKinney who replaced Maouche for his professional debut.
This was followed by a snap-shot from range by Theo Archibald but de la Paz had the effort covered and watched it go past his post.
Archibald came close again just minutes later as he got onto the end of a Joe Ironside cross, but fired over.
Latics’ most potent attacking threat came from centre-back David Wheater who headed over and then was denied by keeper Owen Evans.
Macclesfield scored their matchwinner in the 87th minute as Mohamad Sylla gave a free-kick away on the edge of the area and substitute Jak McCourt bent home a terrific effort into the top corner.
Latics thought they had found an equaliser in the 90th minute when Wheater’s header was cleared off the line.
Oldham Athletic (4-2-3-1): de La Paz; Hamer, Wheater, Stott, Iacovitti; Sylla (Eagles 90), Missilou; McCann, Missilou, Maouche (McKinney 69), Smith; Azankpo (Wilson 59). Subs (not used): Woods, Smith-Brown, Gaskell, Adams.
Attendance 4,428 (458 visitors).