OLDHAM ATHLETIC 4, COVENTRY CITY 1
Oldham Athletic extended their unbeaten run to 12 games following a season’s best win against Coventry City in Sky Bet League One at SportsDirect.com Park.
It was a night to remember for Latics as they climbed to eighth place in the table as they lie on the fringe of the promotion play-off places.
And Jonathan Forte just cannot stop scoring as his double made it 10 goals in just 12 appearances following his summer move from Southampton on a free transfer.
There were also goals from Danny Philliskirk and one on his full debut for new loan-signing Jabo Ibehre.
Brian Wilson was ruled out through injury while Carl Winchester and Dominic Poloen also stood down while Genseric Kusunga, James Dayton and Ibehre stepped into the side.
It didn’t take long for Latics to get into their stride as Philliskirk broke the deadlock in the ninth minute with Forte providing the assist with a header. The finish from the edge of the box was sublime.
And it got better just short of the half hour when Forte dispossessed Jordan Willis before racing through and confidently firing past visiting keeper Ryan Allsop.
Coventry halved the deficit not long after when Liam Kelly fouled James Maddison who picked himself up to score from the free kick, though with the aid of a sizeable deflection which wrong-footed Paul Rachubka.
Mike Jones tried another of his trademark long-range efforts from 40 yards after spotting Allsop off his line, but the keeper desperately got back to tip the ball over the crossbar.
Latics restored their two-goal advantage when Ibehre played the ball over the Coventry defence for Forte to make it 3-1 at the break with his 10th goal of the season.
Forte shot just wide early in the second half as he almost completed a hat trick before maki9ng way for Poleon with 18 minutes left.
Jones had a free kick turned away by Allsop who was beaten for a fourth time with 12 minutes left when Kusunga provided the cross for Ibehre to head home his first goal for the club to round off a memorable night.