OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1, DONCASTER ROVERS 2
Oldham Athletic’s seventh home league defeat of the season inflicted by Doncaster Rovers leaves them anchored in the relegation places in Sky Bet League One.
It is a thoroughly depressing picture with seemingly no sign of an end to the misery as they have managed only one home league victory since the end of March, a truly dreadful statistic.
Latics have picked up only six points from a possible 33 at home – it is 14 on the road from 33 – and that is why they are third bottom and would be last but for their superior goal difference to Colchester and Crewe.
They were undone against Doncaster by wily old striker Andy Williams who maintained his excellent goal tally against Latics with two more strikes.
The first was majestic and likened to one memorable effort scored by former Arsenal striker Dennis Bergkamp.
All Latics had to show for their efforts was a goal from Rhys Murphy on his return from a successful loan spell at Crawley Town where he scored nine in 16 games.
Murphy was handed an immediate starting spot and continued rich vein of form as he replaced the ineligible Richie Wellens, the one enforced change from the side that kicked off at Coventry City.
Latics made a bright start with Carl Winchester and Liam Kelly having early chances.
But it was Doncaster that took the lead after 12 minutes when former Swindon Town and Yeovil Town striker Williams produced a piece of magical footwork to take down a free kick and curl an exquisite shot past Cornell.
And they soon almost doubled the lead when Conor Grant struck the upright with a drive from 25 yards and moments later a drive from a similar distance was deflected narrowly wide.
Latics began to reassert their authority midway through the opening period as Kelly had a penalty appeal turned down and Mike Jones saw a header well saved by Thorsten Stuckmann.
And from the resulting corner, Timothee Dieng headed against the crossbar.
Williams remained a constant threat shooting over from six yards and also denied by a point-blank save from keeper David Cornell.
But Williams was not to be outdone as one minute before the break he bundled in another goal to make it 2-0 to the visitors.
Murphy ought to have halved the deficit on the stroke of half time, but saw his header excellently saved by Stuckmann.
Manager David Dunn made a change at the break as Cameron Dummigan replaced James Wilson, who was out of sorts, with Brian Wilson switching from right back to centre defence.
Former Latics’ left back Cedric Evina could have made it 3-0 soon after the restart when he was denied by a great save from Cornell.
Latics eventually gained a foothold back into the game as Dummigan and Murphy both had decent chances.
Mark Yeates and Joseph Mills were brought on by Latics in the last half hour as they offered a considerable threat down the left, something the team had previously lacked.
Latics reduced the deficit to 2-1 with 15 minutes left when Murphy found the net after a neat build up.
Jones’ ball into the box was flicked on by Murphy to Yeates at the far side. The winger put over a low cross that Murphy fired home from six yards.
Suddenly the impetus was with Latics as they sensed a way back into the game that had appeared lost.
However, Doncaster almost restored a two-goal lead with 10 minutes remaining when Mills came to the rescue to deny Richard Chaplow.
There was one-last chance for Latics in stoppage time when Murphy could have made it 2-2 but he headed over from six yards as their hopes of salvaging a point disappeared.