OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2, EXETER CITY 1
Keith Curle belatedly celebrated his first victory as Oldham Athletic head coach against Exeter City at Boundary Park.
It came at the fifth attempt as Latics continued to show continued to show gradual improvement, this time against the play-off chasing Devon side who crashed to a third straight defeat.
It was also a rare home victory – only the five in 19 Sky Bet League Two matches – as Latics’ form at Boundary Park has been woeful.
Before this victory they had the worst home record in the division and still have collected only 17 points from a possible 57.
Curle made one change from the goalless draw at Bradford City three days earlier as Andrea Badan returned for Harry Clarke who picked up a knock in that game.
Serhat Tasdemir was back on the bench after injury alongside second-year scholar Junior Luamba.
The first opportunity of the game fell to the visitors in the fourth minute when Matt Jay headed over from Jake Taylor’s cross.
Exeter continued to probe when Ryan Bowman’s goal attempt was kept out by goalkeeper Laurie Walker, Nigel Atangana’s header from a free kick failed to hit the target and Bowman somehow sliced a shot wide from in front of goal.
In the 35th minute, Latics took the lead through Kyle Jameson as he scored his first goal for the club. Marcel Hilssner played a short corner to Nicky Adams and his cross was headed home be the central defender.
Walker, Curle’s emergency loan shot-stopper, was called into action early into the second half as pushed Archie Collins’ shot on to the crossbar.
Latics doubled their advantage in the 55th minute as the ball was cleared to Alfie McCalmont on the edge of the area and the Leeds United loanee’s volley went in off the crossbar.
However, Matt Taylor’s side managed to get back into the game in the 66th minute as a cross found Jack Sparkes unmarked at the back post and he slotted into the back of the net from close range to halve the deficit.
Exeter would have equalised but for an unbelievable double save from Walker in the Latics goal to deny Bowman with a follow-up effort from Ben Seymour striking the upright as they lived dangerously.
The visitors piled on the pressure late on, though it was Latics who had the best chance which fell to substitute Luamba. Jameson displayed incredible vision as he played the ball over the top to the youngster, but his low effort was saved by Jokull Andresson.
Oldham Athletic: Walker, Piergianni, Whelan, Keillor-Dunn (Tasdemir 46), Fage (Diarra 90), Jameson, McAleny, Badan, Hilssner (Borthwick-Jackson 70), Adams (Luamba 84), McCalmont. Subs (not used): Bilboe, Grant, Ntambwe.
Goals: Jameson, 35, McCalmont, 55, for Oldham. Sparkes, 66, for Exeter.