OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2, FLEETWOOD TOWN 0
Oldham Athletic turned the Sky Bet League One form book on its head with victory at home to Fleetwood Town.
It looked an away banker as the third-placed Cod Army, unbeaten on their travels since November, were away to relegation-threatened Latics.
But Latics again proved they can match the best – they held leaders Sheffield United in their previous home game – and went one better this time.
Nothan Pond’s own goal was followed by a super strike by Lee Erwin as Latics picked up three valuable points in their battle to beat the drop.
And it was thoroughly deserved as Latics scored twice and also kept a 16th clean sheet of the season.
While Latics had plenty to celebrate, it was a loss that virtually ended the Cod Army’s hopes of a top-two finish and automatic promotion and manager Uwe Rosler admitted his side was well below par.
Manager John Sheridan made one change from last weekend’s defeat Southend United as Tope Obadeyi was replaced by Aaron Amadi-Holloway who recovered from a hamstring injury which had kept him out since the Peterborough United clash.
Latics had the first chance of the game when Ollie Banks’ corner found Anthony Gerrard in the box, he laid it back to Peter Clarke whose shot deflected wide.
Erwin forced a good save from Fleetwood keeper Alex Cairns while Latics’ Connor Ripley denied David Ball from 12 yards.
Erwin will wonder how he didn’t put Latics ahead after 17 minutes when met Ryan McLaughlin’s cross, but he skied over from six yards.
However, Latics did not dwell on that miss and took the lead midway through the half courtesy of an own goal.
It was great work from McLaughlin on the right, he put the ball into the danger zone and Pond struck the ball beyond his own goalkeeper to put Latics ahead.
And it was Athletic who looked the most likely to go on and get another with McLaughlin having a penalty appeal rejected and Banks seeing a free kicked well kept out by Cairns.
In the final minute of the half, Latics almost doubled their lead through Erwin as he bent a shot over the bar from Amadi-Holloway’s pass.
Fleetwood had a great chance after the break to equalise as Ball had space in the penalty area but volleyed wide.
Latics scored their second after 55 minutes as Erwin chested down a pass, turned on a sixpence and volleyed past Cairns, a gem of a goal.
Holloway picked up a knock on the hour mark and was replaced by Michael Ngoo and he was straight into the action setting up Erwin who was denied again by a super stop by Cairns.
Fleetwood went close with 20 minutes remaining, but Bobby Grant volleyed over from inside the box.
The visitors, who had made all three substitutions, were forced to play the final 15 minutes of the game with 10 men after Cian Bolger was forced off with an injury.
Latics almost made it three in the final five minutes when Paul Green and Ngoo set up man of the match Erwin who volleyed straight at Cairns.
But it was also great testimony to Latics’ display the way they managed the latter stages of the game and prevented Fleetwood from getting a toehold back into the game.
Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Ripley; McLaughlin, Gerrard, Clarke, Wilson; Green, Fane, Banks (O’Neill 87), Taylor; Erwin (Obadeyi 87), Holloway (Ngoo 60). Subs (not used): Law, Edmundson, Flynn, Croft.
Goals: Pond (25og), Erwin (55) for Latics.
Attendance: 3,933 (425 visitors)