OLDHAM ATHLETIC 3, MANSFIELD TOWN 1
Oldham Athletic ended their seven-match winless run with an impressive victory at home to Mansfield Town.
It was Latics’ first three points of 2020 and lifted some of the dark clouds that had begun to loom ominously over Boundary Park as they moved 10 points clear of bottom-club Stevenage.
Goals from Jonny Smith, Tom Hamer and Gevaro Nepomuceno provided some warmth for fans on a bitterly cold night.
What a shame more fans didn’t take advantage of the £5 cut-price admission as the crowd was less than 3,000.
Head coach Dino Maamria shook up the side that drew at Salford City on Saturday in a bid to grind out that elusive victory.
He made four changes from Salford, handing a debut to loanee Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and a first start to Zak Dearnley. There were also recalls for Carl Piergianni and Christopher Missilou.
The players to lose out were Zak Mills, Mohamed Maouche, Christian N’Guessan and Desire Segbe Azankpo.
Latics started the game on the front foot as Stags’ keeper Bobby Olejnik punched away a Smith cross and saved shots from Nepomuceno and David Wheater.
Smith got the reward for his performance in the 23rd minute as he slotted home Nepomuceno’s cross.
Latics’ dominance continued after taking the lead and new signing Danny Rowe fired wide from distance.
Wheater had a great chance to double the lead but he headed Smith’s corner over the bar in the 38th minute. Dearnley also had a half-chance not long after, his shot was saved by Olejnik.
Just moments later and Latics scored a second goal that their sparkling play deserved. Hamer ghosted in unmarked and managed to flick the ball in off the post.
Mansfield could not have complained if Latics would have scored a third before the interval and it was nearly a reality as Rowe fired agonisingly wide.
Latics started the second half as they finished the first, Nepomuceno broke through but ignored the shouts from forwards Dearnley and Rowe to go alone and fire a shot straight at Olejnik. He redeemed himself less than 10 minutes later with a peach of a goal, an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner.
Latics had further chances to add to their goal tally, notably to Rowe and Missilou.
They were rarely in any danger and not even a 93rd-minute goal from Mansfield’s Ottis Khan or the wet conditions could dampen the mood at Boundary Park as fans were treated to a quality display.
Goals: Smith (23), Hamer (43), Nepomuceno (58) for Oldham. Otis Khan (90+3).
Oldham Athletic (4-2-3-1): de la Paz, Hamer, Piergianni, Wheater; Borthwick-Jackson; Missilou, Sylla; Nepomuceno (Branger-Engone 88), Dearnley (Maouche 64), Smith; Rowe. Subs (not used): Allen, Mills, Wilson, Azankpo, N’Guessan.
Attendance: 2,961 (395 visitors).