CREWE ALEXANDRA 2, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1
Oldham Athletic’s six match unbeaten run in Sky Bet League Two came to a dramatic end at promotion-chasing Crewe Alexandra.
Latics look set to extend that record until Charlie Kirk’s late and dramatic intervention as he scored a 97th minute winner against the Railwaymen.
It was cruel on 17th-placed Latics who had battled hard and deserved some reward for their efforts, even though head coach Dino Maamria was critical of his side’s failings in keeping hold of the ball.
That was responsible for Crewe enjoying 67 per cent possession while they also had 18 goal attempts to Latics’ seven.
Maamria made two changes from the side that beat Bradford City comprehensively the previous week, though both were enforced through injury.
Zak Mills was recalled at left-back in place of Cameron Borthwick-Jackson while Mohammed Maouche took over from Zak Dearnley.
The least said the better about the dire opening half which was a non-event.
Latics made the breakthrough within three minutes of the restart when Bristol City loanee Jonny Smith converted a Gevaro Nepomuceno cross from six yards, his 10th goal of the season.
Crewe levelled within seven minutes when what seemed a harmless shot from James Jones squirmed out of goalkeeper Zeus de la Paz’s grasp and trickled over the line.
It looked a nailed on draw until the drama in the seven minutes of added time for injuries, substitutions taking an eternity and blatant timewasting from Latics.
There was a let off for Latics in the 95th minute when Crewe substitute Callum Ainley saw a shot unconvincingly scrambled around the post for a corner by de la Paz.
Then with almost the last kick of the game, Kirk grabbed the headlines with the winner, a terrific solo effort.
Kirk slalomed his way clear cutting in from the left and firing low past de la Paz to leave Latics’ 1,262 travelling army crestfallen to have come so close to leaving with a point.
Goals: Jones (55), Kirk (90+7) for Crewe. Smith (48) for Latics.
Oldham (4-4-2): de la Paz; Hamer, Piergianni, Wheater, Mills (Dieseruvwe 90+8); Nepomuceno, Missilou, Sylla, Smith; Maouche (Branger-Engone 81), Rowe. Subs (not used): Allen, Wilson, Fage, N’Guessan, Fage.
Attendance: 5,271 (1,262 visitors).