GRIMSBY TOWN 2, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1
The curse of the free kick struck again as Oldham Athletic crashed to a fifth straight pre-season defeat at Grimsby Town, hardly ideal preparations for the new campaign.
For the third successive game, Latics were undone by a free kick. This time it was super-sub Dominic Vose who inflicted the telling blow.
And it was another worrying defeat bearing in mind the Mariners were non league last season.
Kayden Jackson gave Grimsby an early lead, Jamie Reckford equalised for Latics only for Vose to conjure a winner 10 minutes from time.
Billy McKay and Lee Erwin had early chances as Latics made a bright start only to fall behind after 14 minutes.
Ben Davies’ cross dissected centre-backs Peter Clarke and Cameron Burgess enabling Jackson to head home.
And they almost succumbed again to the same combination, but this time Jackson’s header looped wide of Connor Ripley’s goal.
Latics responded and Lee Croft’s shot was well turned over the bar by keeper James McKeown while McKay and Erwin had further openings.
But the visitors had to be wary of the counter attack, something underlined when Sean McAllister forced a decent save from Ripley.
Latics’ 56th minute equaliser came from an unlikely source, left-back Reckford who headed home a cross from Ollie Banks.
Trialist Darius Osei was introduced after 70 minutes for his debut as he replaced Ryan Flynn.
Latics looked set to end their losing run until Vose struck the winner with 10 minutes left, hammering home a 25-yard free kick in off the underside of the crossbar.