OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2, CHELTENHAM TOWN 1
It was a night of firsts for Oldham Athletic as they defeated Cheltenham Town in a teatime Sky Bet League Two fixture at Boundary Park.
Latics recorded their first home league win of the season at the sixth attempt as their five previous attempts had yielded only one point from a possible 15.
There were also first goals for the club from George Blackwood and Arsenal loanee Harry Clarke on a night when Rueben Reid scored on a return to his former club.
And Latics’ third league win of the season lifted them to 19th place and seven points clear of the bottom two relegation places.
After a disappointing start to the season, Latics’ new-look side has begun to build momentum with three wins and a draw from their last six league matches.
Latics made two changes from the side that lost at Salford City in their previous match.
Jordan Barnett replaced Carl Piergianni in defence while Zak Dearnley’s recent goalscoring exploits were rewarded with a starting spot at the expense of Bobby Grant.
Dearnley’s appearance was a brief, though, as he came off injured in the ninth minute to be replaced by Dylan Bahamboula.
Latics almost got off to a dream start, Zak Dearnley was the benefactor of a beautiful through ball that split the visitors’ two centre backs, but the in-form striker saw his shot saved by Joshua Griffiths.
Unfortunately, it was to be the forward’s last contribution of the match and he was withdrawn through injury in the ninth minute with Dylan Bahamboula taking his place.
Barnett had a chance to net his first goal for the club when Cameron Borthwick-Jackson’s low cross found him, but he shot over the bar.
Robins’ goalkeeper Josh Griffiths was called into action in the 23rd minute but Callum Whelan’s effort from distance was easily dealt with.
Michael Duff’s side made the breakthrough on the half hour with Alfie May crossing for Reuben Reid to clinically finish past goalkeeper Ian Lawlor.
Latics levelled four minutes later when Bahamboula’s well-hit shot was only parried by Griffiths to Blackwood who opened his account with a simple finish.
It was the visitors who had the first opportunity after the interval when full back Chris Hussey fired wide following a corner,
Exciting winger Bahamboula continued to cause Cheltenham problems but he would have been disappointed with his effort in the 53rd minute, blazing over.
Substitute Danny Rowe produced fantastic hold-up play to set up Tom Hamer, but Griffiths was on hand to deny the full back a goal on his 100th appearance for Latics.
Latics continued to impress and Bahamboula had another chance but again fired over.
Town almost scored against the run of play in the 80th minute, Alfie May’s cut back found the in-form Andy Williams, but Clarke was on the line to save the deny with an important clearance.
Lawlor had little to do but was called upon to make a fantastic stop from Will Boyle’s downward header in the 83rd minute.
Latics’ dominance finally paid off with a winner in the 85th minute, Clarke supplying the finish after a Barnett corner had resulted in a scramble. It was brilliant work from Rowe to win the corner.
Oldham Athletic:Lawlor, Clarke, Borthwick-Jackson, Blackwood (Rowe 60), Whelan (Garrity 71), Keilor-Dunn, Jameson, Ntambwe, Barnett, Dearnley (Bahamboula 9), Hamer. Subs (not used): Bilboe, Grant, Fage, McCalmont
Goals: Blackwood, 34, Clarke, 85, for Oldham. Reid, 30, for Cheltenham.