OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1, HARROGATE TOWN 2
Just days after head coach Harry Kewell spoke about creating something special at Oldham Athletic came yet another home loss as their wretched Boxing Day form continued.
Harrogate Town became the eighth team from 11 visitors to leave Boundary Park with maximum points from their first-ever game against Latics who have suffered defeats in their last five matches on December 26.
Again, it is Latics’ wretched home form – seven points from a possible 33 – which is proving the Achilles heel in their bid for promotion from Sky Bet League Two.
They have the third worst home record in the division yet away they have the third best with six wins and a draw from nine road trips.
The seasons of Latics and EFL new-boys Harrogate have run along Parallel Lines – nothing to do with the iconic album from pop legends Blondie.
Harrogate have the worst home record in the division with one solitary win from nine attempts yet have the second best away record having picked up 19 points on their travels, the same number as Latics.
And it is this widely contrasting form which is why both clubs are just below half way in the table.
It was a disappointing afternoon for Latics as a win would have lifted them to within two points of the top seven play-off places.
For the last eight games it was been won one, lost one as they have been consistent in their inconsistency.
Harrogate ought to have been ripe for the taking having lost dive of their previous six matches to slide worryingly down the table.
Latics made an uncomfortable start against Harrogate’s high pressing of their defence.
And they had goalkeeper Ian Lawlor to thank for keeping the game goalless as he made a fine triple save to deny George Thomson, Connor Kirby and Jack Muldoon in the same move.
Yet it was Latics who took a 19th minute lead through Conor McAleny’s penalty, his 13th goal of the season after Davis Keillor-Dunn was brought down.
Harrogate were not behind for long as, 10 minutes later, Latics maintained their record of no clean sheets in the league this season. The ball fell perfectly into the path of the dangerous Thomson and he had the composure to volley home.
Just before the interval, things went from bad to worse for Kewell who saw his side get reduced to 10 men when forward Bobby Grant had an aerial collision with Jake Lawlor inside the visitor’s half and referee Ben Speedie produced a red card.
Kewell adjusted how his team set up, Sido Jombati and McAleny made way for Dylan Fage and Ben Garrity at half time.
The Sulphurites had a great opportunity to complete a comeback when Aaron Martin headed the ball down to striker partner Muldoon, but the former Rochdale player sliced his strike out for a goal-kick from yards out.
Midfielder Kirby also went close with a volley from the edge of the box which troubled Lawlor after he lost his footing and slipped but, to the relief of his team, he managed to to keep the effort out.
In the 71st minute, Town score the decisive goal as Latics cleared a corner but the ball was delivered back into the box and landed at the feet of Thomson who fired into the far top corner from a tight angle on the right for his second of the game.
Latics went in search of an equaliser but failed to create any clear-cut chances which meant again there was little festive cheer.
Oldham Athletic: Lawlor, Clarke, Borthwick-Jackson, Jombati (Fage 46), Piergianni, Keillor-Dunn (Barnett 82), Grant, Ntambwe, McAleny (Garrity 46), Bahamboula (Dearnley 66), McCalmont (Whelan 82). Subs (not used): Bilboe, Hamer.
Goals: McAleny, 19, for Oldham. Thomson, 29, 71, for Harrogate.