BRISTOL ROVERS 2, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 3
What a relief as Oldham Athletic finally secured their first win of the season…at the eighth attempt in league and cup games.
The victory at Bristol Rovers in Sky Bet League One was a timely and unexpected result bearing in mind they had lost on each of their last six visits to the Memorial Ground.
And this time they almost contrived to throw away the points after blowing a two-goal lead late in the game.
But cometh and hour, cometh the man as loan striker Eoin Doyle came up with an 88th minute winning goal to the delight of the 123 visiting fans who had made their way to the West Country on a Tuesday night.
After a goalless opening period, it was certainly and eventful and explosive second period.
Latics thought they had victory in the bag when Jack Byrne and Craig Davies had given them a two-goal lead after 70 minutes.
But goals from Rory Gaffney and Ryan Sweeney in the 83rd and 85th minutes brought anguish until Doyle saved the day.
Manager John Sheridan stuck with the same side that drew 2-2 at Fleetwood Town on Saturday with Eoin Doyle and Craig Davies again leading the line.
The first shot of the game came after eight minutes from an unlikely source as Bristol Rovers goalkeeper Adam Smith’s long kick was taken by the wind and almost deceived goalkeeper Jack Ruddy but he caught it on the line.
The home side posed problems as Ellis Harrison fired over from inside the box but he should have put the Gas ahead on 18 minutes and soon after he was denied by a great recovering challenge from George Edmundson.
Latics had their first real chance of the game when Byrne received the ball on the edge of the box but he fired wide.
Just after the half hour mark, Latics had a great opportunity to take the lead as Davies was fouled on the edge of the box. Dan Gardner took the free kick but it rebounded off the wall and then Peter Clarke’s follow up was volleyed over the crossbar.
Latics finished the half strongly and should have gone into the break ahead when Doyle’s cross found Davies in front of goal. The striker looked set to convert but a defender managed to get back and divert the ball onto the crossbar. That was followed by Gardner volleying narrowly wide.
Latics started where they left off in the second half and took a deserved lead after 49 minutes when Kean Bryan picked out Byrne in space, he took the ball forward and unleashed a thunderbolt into the top corner, a goal-of-the-season contender.
Jack Ruddy had yet to be tested in the second half but after 67 minutes spectacularly tipped over an effort from the edge of the box byTom Nichols.
Minutes later, Latics doubled their advantage through the impressive Davies who fired home from the edge of the box after being set up by Byrne.
It was almost three when Ryan McLaughlin’s cross from the right was just ahead of Davies.
Byrne was replaced by Ousmane Fane after 80 minutes to a standing ovation and he immediately went close with a shot that flew narrowly wide.
Bristol pulled a goal back after 83 minutes as Gaffney found space behind the defence and slid the ball past Ruddy.
Two minutes later, and against the run of play, the home side were level. Substitute Chris Lines’s free kick was headed home by Ryan Sweeney, though some sources claimed it was an own goal.
However, Latics responded well and retook the lead after 88 minutes as Bryan’s cross was headed home by Dole off the crossbar, nothing more than they deserved after a dominant performance.
However, there was further drama in the final minute of five minutes of additional time when a cross into the box was blocked by Clarke and the ball was trapped under his body.
The referee awarded a drop ball 12 yards from goal, but Latics managed to clear and they held on to all three points.
Oldham Athletic (3-3-2): Ruddy; Gerrard, Clarke, Edmundson; McLaughlin, Gardner, Byrne (Fane 79), Bryan, Nepomuceno; Davies (Holloway 90+1), Doyle. Subs (not used): Placide, Dummigan, Wilson, Banks, Menig.
Goals: Gaffney,(83)‚ Sweeney (85) for Bristol. Byrne, (49)‚ Davies (70), Doyle, (88) for Oldham.
Attendance: 7,908 (123 visitors)