OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1, CREWE ALEXANDRA 0
Oldham Athletic heaved a huge sigh of relief after recording the victory that ensures Sky Bet League One survival.
And it was achieved with two games to spare and ahead of schedule for manager John Sheridan who had anticipated Latics’ fate may be not be determined until the last game of the season.
When Sheridan took charge in January, he set Latics a target of nine wins from their remaining 19 league games to ensure they stayed up – a tall order bearing in mind they had won only three league games up to that point.
The home victory against already-relegated Crewe Alexandra made it nine wins from 17 games, form associated with teams striving for promotion as opposed to battling relegation.
And it was Jonathan Forte, last season’s top scorer, who struck the decisive goal in what has been an injury-disrupted campaign for the striker.
It was a somewhat fortuitous win as Crewe were by far the better team and Latics at times rode their luck.
Manager John Sheridan opted to stick with the same side which beat Southend United in midweek with George Edmundson retaining his place at the heart of the defence.
Crewe were a threat from the start with striker Marcus Haber heading narrowly wide before denying the same player with a smart save.
Latics struggled to get a foothold in the game, though eventually they managed to do so as Timothee Dieng forced a save from Ben Garrett while Curtis Main volleyed over from inside the six-yard box.
Haber was proving to be a threat in front of goal and Coleman tipped over his header midway through the half.
Lee Croft tried an ambitious effort on the half hour mark which was blocked while Tareiq Holmes-Dennis volleyed over from 25 yards as Latics struggled to find a way past the resolute Crewe defence.
Callum Saunders broke the offside trap but Coleman again came out on top as he kept out his shot.
Latics ended the half stronger with Liam Kelly’s shot flying past the post and Main forced a strong save from Ben Garratt as he palmed his volley wide from six yards.
They needed to be better in the second half but again started lacklustre with Crewe looking to likelier of the sides to get the opening goal.
Brian Wilson was forced into last-ditch defending, clearing underneath his own crossbar from a Haber header and minutes later Jamie Jones hit the side netting from a tight angle.
Against the run of play, Latics took the lead on the hour mark through Forte.
Dieng ran on to a loose ball, crossed into the box and Forte guided a shot in off the post past keeper Garrett.
Latics quickly went in search of another goal as Holmes-Dennis crossed for Main but his effort went over the crossbar.
Croft was forced off with injury 20 minutes from time, being replaced by Carl Winchester.
Crewe remained a threat as substitute Brad Inman forced an excellent save from Coleman as he clawed the ball wide after it looked in all the way.
It would be Inman again who had the chance to equalise but his shot from just inside the penalty area went wide of the goal.
Latics ended the game strongly with substitute Dominic Poleon forcing a good save from Garratt and Dieng’s shot was blocked as they might have won by a wider margin.