OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2, SHREWSBURY TOWN 3.
Oldham Athletic’s four match unbeaten run in Sky Bet League One was ended by lowly Shrewsbury Town who triumphed at SportsDirect.com Park.
It was a disappointing afternoon for Latics who ended with 10 men following Ousmane Fane’s sending off 20 minutes from the end.
But there were goals from Josh Law and Lee Erwin, the striker’s first for the club, though on the debit side, their defence has leaked eight goals at home in two games in the last week.
Manager Stephen Robinson made six changes to the side that played Carlisle in the Checkatrade Trophy as all the big hitters returned – he used the cup game to give match time to his squad players.
Latics made a bright start with Erwin heading narrowly wide and took the lead midway through the opening period when Billy Mckay was fouled just outside the box and Josh Law bent the free kick round the defensive wall into the bottom corner.
And they were convinced they ought to have been awarded a penalty when captain Peter Clarke looked to be clearly fouled.
Shrews began to threaten late in the opening half and they were rewarded with an equaliser after 43 minutes when Junior Brown’s header looped over keeper Connor Ripley from a Joe Riley cross.
Latics could have regained the lead before the break as Ladapo’s shot flew narrowly wide.
Shrewsbury wen ahead for the first time after 49 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for alleged holding in the area as Ivan Toney sent Ripley the wrong way from the spot.
Latics claimed a second penalty when Clarke was again held down, but the referee was unmoved.
Just after the hour, Riley made it 3-1 to the visitors, powerfully striking past Ripley from 18 yards after the full back received too much space on the right.
Latics’ task was made nigh impossible when Fane was handed a second yellow card for a clumsy challenge and they had to play the last 20 minutes one player short.
They needed a slice of luck in front of goal and substitute Darius Osei forced a smart save from Jayson Leutwiler.
The striker had another effort 10 minutes from time but this time Leutwiler tipped it past the post for a corner.
The 10 men grittily reduced the deficit with eight minutes left when Erwin opened his account smashing home a shot from 10 yards after Paul Green’s corner was not cleared by the Shrews’ defence.
Latics piled on the pressure in the final 10 minutes of the game but were met by a stubborn Shrews’ defence.
However, Latics almost snatched an unlikely point in the second of seven minutes of added time when Ladapo smashed a shot against the crossbar.
Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Ripley, Law, Burgess, Clarke, Dunne (Banks 83), Flynn (Croft 61) Fane, Green, Erwin; Mckay (Osei 61), Ladapo. Subs (not used): Kettings, Wilson, Klok, McLaughlin.
Goals: Law (24) and Erwin (82) for Oldham. Brown (43), Toney (50) and Riley (62) for Shrewsbury.
Attendance: 3,697