SHREWSBURY TOWN 0, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1
John Sheridan’s first victory back in charge of Oldham Athletic provided a glimmer of hope in the battle against relegation from Sky Bet League One.
Latics went into the game eight points from a position of safety, but the win reduced the gap to a less-daunting five points thanks to a decisive goal from Carl Winchester.
There is still much to do as, in the build up to the game at Greenhous Meadow, Sheridan forecasted that his side needed to win nine of its last 20 games to achieve safety.
Given they had only won three of their first 26 matches, that underlined the size of their task.
Now it is eight wins in 19 after the latest win which followed a great team effort.
And while Winchester won plaudits for his goal, Latics’ defence deserved praise as it was superbly marshalled by Anthony Gerrard who only returned on the morning of the match.
Gerrard had been playing for free at Shrewsbury in a bid to land a contract, and it was ironic his first game was at Greenhous Meadow.
He played alongside Timothee Dieng in the centre of defence while James Wilson deputised for the injured Brian Wilson at right back.
The remainder of the team was unchanged with Sheridan again plumping for Jonathan Forte and Dominic Poleon as his front pairing with Jake Cassidy and Rhys Murphy again on the bench.
The start to the game was pulsating as Jack Grimmer and James Wallace had chances for the Shrews whole Matt Palmer fired over for Latics, all inside the opening 10 minutes.
The breakthrough came midway through the opening period when Poleon, Daniel Lafferty and Palmer linked well to set up Winchester who fired home from 25 yards for his first goal of the season.
Latics created further chances in the opening half as Mike Jones, Palmer and Poleon all had openings, but there were no further goals.
After dominating much of the first period, it was more of the same from Latics at the start of the second as captain Liam Kelly tried an audacious effort from 40 yards that forced a good save from keeper Jason Leutwiler.
The injured Poleon was replaced by Murphy who almost made an instant impact which he made a solo run only to see his effort kept out by the legs of Lutwiler.
Shrewsbury gradually began to impose themselves on the game with Wilson forced to make a goalline clearance.
Manager Micky Mellon threw on all three substitutes, including former Latics’ striker Scott Vernon.
Latics defended resolutely and were rarely troubled, though Andy Mangan almost caught keeper Joel Coleman off his line after 86 minutes.
And Murphy had a chance to seal victory in the first of six minutes of added time when Murphy was denied by a last-ditch challenge as Latics held on for three precious points.