OLDHAM ATHLETIC 3, NEWPORT COUNTY 2
Oldham Athletic remain Sky Bet League Two’s comeback kings after they completed a league double against promotion-chasing Newport County.
Latics, who once again fell behind, have now picked up 18 points of their 32 points from losing positions.
It was only Latics’ third home league win of the season from 13 attempts, a task made easier by Newport’s 14th minute dismissal of captain Josh Labadie.
But once again Latics proved they are a match for the best the division can offer in what was a gripping contest.
New signing Nicky Adams came straight in for his debut and was named captain as head coach made five changes to the team that drew at Walsall with Ben Garrity, Davis Keillor-Dunn, Bobby Grant and Dylan Bahamboula returning. To add to this, fellow new boy Marcus Barnes was named on the bench.
Initially, first-choice goalkeeper Ian Lawlor was starting but he was injured in the warm-up and Laurence Bilboe replaced him for his second Latics appearance.
Newport took a third minute lead when debutant Luke Gambin delivered a cross in from the right which was headed home by Jack Scrimshaw.
However, their lead didn’t last long as five minutes later Keillor-Dunn equalised. Tom King, who set new world record in midweek against Cheltenham Town for longest goal in football, punched Bahamboula’s cross into the path of the midfielder and he beat his man before firing home under the keeper.
Michael Flynn’s side were reduced to 10 men when Labadie lashed out at Marcel Hilssner in front of referee Chris Sarginson who had no hesitation in producing a red card.
In the 29th minute, Latics went ahead through Bobby Grant. Conor McAleny’s shot on goal was parried into the path of the striker who converted from close range.
Bahamboula glided past Ryan Haynes into the box before crossing to Garrity who was denied by King.
Just before half-time, provider turned goalscorer for the Exiles as Colchester United loanee Gambin made it 2-2, cutting inside before bending a shot into the bottom corner.
Latics had a couple of half-chances soon after the restart when Bahamboula couldn’t get good contact on the ball after King parried McAleny’s shot before Hilssner’s strike from range went just over the crossbar.
Kewell’s side found the winner in the 74th minute as both new signings produced great work down the right-wing with Barnes laying the ball off to Adams and his cross was put through his own goal by Newport defender Micky Demetriou who attempted to clear.
Latics should have wrapped up the victory after King brought McAleny down inside the area, but Bahamboula smashed his penalty over the crossbar.
County piled on the pressure in added time but Latics held out for a rate home victory.
Oldham Athletic:Bilboe , Clarke, Borthwick-Jackson (Badan 46), Jombati, Garrity, Keillor-Dunn (Barnes 65), Grant (Ntambwe 84), McAleny (Jameson 91), Hilssner, Adams, Bahamboula. Subs (not used): Chapman, Piergianni, Hamer.
Goals: Keillor-Dunn, 8, Grant, 29, Demetriou, 74 og, for Oldham. Scrimshaw, 3, Gambin, 40, for Newport.