OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2, SALFORD CITY 1
Oldham Athletic’s failure to concede defeat resurfaced as they came from behind to snatch a last-gasp win against neighbours Salford City.
That is 21 of their 35 points have been collected from losing positions, a remarkable statistic which underlined the resilience of head coach Harry Kewell’s side.
Late goals from Dylan Bahamboula and substitute Davis Keillor-Dunn ensured Oldham made it back-to-back home wins against Newport County and Salford, two teams with their eyes on promotion from League Two.
And Latics, now with four wins from 14 league games at Boundary Park, no longer have the worst home record in the division.
Suddenly they find themselves in the top half of the table and only five points outside the play-off places, though they enjoyed an element of good fortune as Salford struck the frame of the Oldham goal three times.
Following Latics’ midweek defeat at Cheltenham Town, Kewell made four changes to team with Ian Lawlor, returning after injury, as well as Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Alfie McCalmont and Bobby Grant.
Ben Garrity missed out through injury while Laurence Bilboe, Kyle Jameson and Keillor-Dunn also lost out.
Former Latics manager Richie Wellens’ side found itself ahead after nine minutes, new signing Tom James spotted the run of Ian Henderson and played the ball over the top with the former Rochdale man slotting past Lawlor.
The Ammies almost extended their level shortly after following great work by Leeds United loanee Robbie Gotts to win possession before setting up Richie Towell and the midfielder smashed a shot against the crossbar before it bounced down on to the line before being cleared.
Provider nearly turned goalscorer for Salford as Towell released James clean through on goal, but the right-back watched his effort strike the upright and rebound into the hands of the grateful Lawlor.
Before the interval, Salford had another golden opportunity to double their advantage when Paul Coutts, recently signed on loan from Fleetwood Town, found himself free inside the Latics box from a corner, but he snatched at his chance which cleared the crossbar.
Latics started the second half more positively and purposefully than the first began with Conor McAleny racing through on goal before being denied by Vaclav Hladky and the goalkeeper managed to keep out two efforts from Nicky Adams.
In the 73rd minute, Latics equalised through Bahamboula. Marcel Hilssner blasted a free-kick from 40-yards which the goalkeeper palmed out to the Frenchman on the edge of the area and he smashed a shot bottom corner.
Salford came close to an instant response as they counter-attacked with Gotts laying the ball to former Latics’ loanee Jason Lowe, but Borthwick-Jackson bravely blocked the strike before it rebounded out to James and his fierce drive struck the post.
Latics completed the comeback in added time as substitute Keillor-Dunn received the ball about 35 yards from goal and, confidently, curled an effort past Hladky and into the top corner, making it three goals in four games and spark joyous scenes at Boundary Park.
Oldham Athletic:Lawlor, H Clarke, Borthwick-Jackson, Jombati, Grant, Ntambwe (Keillor-Dunn 63), McAleny, Hilssner, Adams, Bahamboula (Piergianni 94), McCalmont. Subs (unused): Bilboe, Whelan, Fage, Badan, Da Silva.
Goals: Bahamboula ,75, Keillor-Dunn, 90+2, for Oldham. Henderson, 9, for Salford.