BRADFORD CITY 1, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2
With seven wins on the road from their last eight away games, Oldham Athletic are certainly a band of happy travellers.
Indeed, head coach Harry Kewell’s side is performing far better away than at Boundary Park where their form has been patchy.
Latics made it three away wins in a week – Exeter, Barrow and latterly Bradford City in the second round of the Emirates FA Cup. This was their fifth straight away win, another impressive statistic.
And Latics are also becoming renowned for spectacular strikes as they added a further couple to their growing repertoire.
The efforts from Conor McAleny and Danny Rowe would make any shortlist for goal of the week or month awards.
In the case of Rowe his strike came exactly one week after another stunner in the 2-1 win at Exeter.
Kewell freshened the side which had won 4-3 at Barrow in midweek.
There were recalls for on-loan defender Harry Clarke, midfielders Brice Ntambwe and Alfie McCalmont and striker McAleny.
The players losing out were Sido Jombati, Bobby Grant, Raphael Diarra and Dylan Bahamboula.
On a wet and miserable afternoon in West Yorkshire, there was one minute’s silence before kick-off in memory of footballing greats Diego Maradona, Ray Clemence and Nobby Stiles.
Bradford, beaten 3-1 at home by Latics 18 days earlier in the Papa John’s Trophy, made the perfect start as they set out to avenge that loss.
They were ahead in the 11th minute through a Clayton Donaldson penalty after the striker had been brought down by goalkeeper Ian Lawlor.
Latics levelled seven minutes later when McAleny produced a wonder strike.
Rowe and McCalmont combined to release McAleny who cut in from the left and found the far top corner with an unstoppable striker, his second in two matches and 10th for the season.
McAleny nearly had another goal minutes later as Cameron Borthwick-Jackson’s cross found him on the edge of the box, but he shot narrowly wide.
Latics almost went ahead again when Rowe and Dylan Fage linked to set up Ntambwe who fired over from close range when he looked set to score his first goal for the club.
McAleny kept knocking at the door as he had a low drive well saved by goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell and then headed against the crossbar.
Just before half-time, Latics should again have taken the lead as McCalmont made a terrific run before setting up Ben Garrity who pulled his shot wide.
Latics started the second half in the manner they finished the first taking the lead through the in-form Rowe. The striker turned his marker on the right and smashed a spectacular effort into the far corner to make it four goals in three games and nine for the season.
Bradford had a great opportunity to equalise in the 77th minute when Lawlor parried Connor Wood’s cross to substitute Gareth Evans but the keeper turned his effort away for a corner.
Ntambwe headed narrowly wide from a corner as Latics could have won by a wider margin which they deserved on the balance of play and the chances they created.
Oldham Athletic:Lawlor, H Clarke, Borthwick-Jackson, Piergianni, Garrity, Rowe, Keillor-Dunn, Fage (Jombati 78), Ntambwe, McAleny (Barnett 71), McCalmont. Subs (not used): Bilboe , Whelan, Diarra, Da Silva, Hamer.
Goals: Donaldson, 11, for Bradford City. McAleny, 18, Rowe, 47, for Oldham Athletic.