MORECAMBE 4, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 3
Oldham Athletic narrowly failed to pull off a great escape as they lost at promotion-chasing Morecambe in Sky Bet League Two.
The game looked over with The Shrimps 4-1 ahead with 12 minutes left only for head coach Keith Curle’s side to stage a grandstand finish.
Late goals from Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Kyle Jameson made it a nerve-jangling finish for the hosts.
There was frustration for Latics as, after back-to-back wins against Crawley Town and Southend United, had been looking to post three straight league victories for the first time this season.
They had secured three wins in a row twice before in the current campaign, but they had included cup games.
Curle kept faith with the players which had impressed in the previous two matches.
Derek Adams’ side found themselves ahead after five minutes as Kelvin Mellor floated a ball over Latics’ backline which Carlos Mendes Gomes finished with a low angled finish.
Latics began to get a foothold and should have scored when Conor McAleny set up Davis Keillor-Dunn inside the six-yard box, but he was denied by former Latics’ trialist Kyle Letheren in the Morecambe goal.
Moments later, McAleny had an effort blocked on the line by Mellor following a cross by Dylan Bahamboula.
Morecambe ought to have doubled their advantage when Cole Stockton fired narrowly wide from a Liam Gibson cross.
Latics equalised six minutes before the break when Jameson delivered an impressive long pass for McAleny to run on to and chip Letheren for his 20th goal of the season in all competitions.
However, the hosts restored their lead within minutes when Mendes Gomes’ cross was met by Aaron Wildig and he steered into the bottom corner to make it two in two against Latics.
In the first half added time, Morecambe scored another through Stockton. Wildig flicked the ball to the target man, and he fired past goalkeeper Laurie Walker.
Soon after the restart, The Shrimps made it four as Mendes Gomes got his second of the game. Former Leeds United midfielder Toumani Diagouraga displayed great vision to slot the attacker one-on-one with the goalkeeper and he kept his cool to find the bottom corner.
With just over 10 minutes left, Latics pulled a goal back as substitute Nicky Adams delivered a corner into the box which eluded everyone apart from Cameron Borthwick-Jackson at the back post and the left-back tapped into the goal to give his side a little hope.
Latics got another with two minutes to go as, once again, Adams delivered an excellent corner, and it was met by Jameson and the central defender managed to flick his header into the far corner to gather more belief for Curle’s men.
Latics looked to find an equaliser in the late stages, however, Morecambe managed to stand strong to earn their third win over Latics this season.
Oldham Athletic: Walker, Clarke (Hilssner 66), Borthwick-Jackson, Piergianni, Whelan, Keillor-Dunn (Vaughan 84), Fage (Adams 60), Jameson, McAleny, Bahamboula (Blackwood 60), McCalmont (Garrity 60). Subs (not used): Bilboe, Badan.
Goals: Mendes Gomes ,5, 53, Wildig, 42, Stockton 45+1 for Morecambe. McAleny, 39, Borthwick-Jackson, 78, Jameson, 88, for Morecambe.