OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1, SHREWSBURY TOWN 2
Oldham Athletic were unable to halt the impressive start to the season by Sky Bet League One leaders Shrewsbury Town as they crashed to a fourth straight home league loss.
Yet it was a spirited display by Latics and again showed the fine margins between top and bottom as they are in last place.
The Shrews took the lead through Stefan Payne, Craig Davies equalised as he scored for a fourth straight game but Jon Nolan gave the Shrews victory in the second half as they made it 22 points from a possible 24.
Yet Latics could have gone ahead in the second half when Eoin Doyle rounded Shrews’ keeper only to hit the upright when confronted with an open goal.
“If that had gone in and we had been 2-1 ahead it would have been a different game,” lamented manager John Sheridan.
It certainly wasn’t Doyle day as he was sent off in stoppage time at the end after collecting a second booking.
Sheridan named an unchanged squad for the third game in a row as Latics looked to build on the four points picked up in two games at Fleetwood and Bristol Rovers.
Shrewsbury started the brighter of the two sides as midfielder Nolan had the first shot of the game as he danced his way across the box but his shot was blocked by captain Peter Clarke.
Latics were almost rewarded when a defensive mistake almost played Davies through but former Latics’ loanee Mat Sadler recovered to intercept.
Shrewsbury took the lead after 20 minutes following a defensive mistake as Payne bundled the ball home in front of goal, despite the best efforts from George Edmundson to keep it out.
The striker took a whack to the face and had to be replaced following the goal, and that saw the introduction of Carlton Morris.
Jack Byrne’s strike from 25 yards took a deflection but Shrews goalkeeper Dean Henderson saved on the line.
Just after the half hour mark, Gevaro Nepomuceno picked out Doyle who dragged his shot wide of the far post.
However, a minute later, Latics were level and it was Nepomuceno who provided the assist. His driven cross found the head of Davies who beat Henderson.
Latics finished the half strongly and created a number of chances in the final five minutes.
Another Nepomuceno ball into the centre found Davies who played a one-two with Byrne but his volley from 25 yards went over the crossbar.
Byrne then found Bryan 25 yards from goal but his fierce shot also went over the crossbar.
Latics started the second half strongly and should have been ahead on 50 minutes. Davies found Doyle who rounded the goalkeeper, did everything right but struck against the post with the goal gaping.
They continued to carve out chances with Davies twice going close while Clarke had a couple of decent openings.
For all Latics’ attacking, the Shrews started to turn the screw on the hour mark as Junior Brown and Shaun Whalley both went close to regaining the lead for the visitors.
They scored what turned out to be the winning goal after 65 minutes through Nolan. The midfielder received a ball into the box from Morris, took a touch and guided the ball past Jack Ruddy to put the Shrews back ahead.
Latics did not stop and continued to pile the pressure on the visitors with Davies hitting the wall from a free kick on the edge of the box and seeing another effort land on the roof of the net.
Queensy Menig was handed his debut for Latics late on, and he won a free kick from which Byrne forced Henderson to make a decent save.
Another substitute, Ousmane Fane, almost equalised with five minutes remaining but he struck s shot wide from the edge of the box.
Five minutes of additional time were announced but two minutes into that, Doyle was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card to add insult to injury
Oldham Athletic (3-5-2): Ruddy; Edmundson (Menig 77), Clarke, Gerrard; McLaughlin, Byrne, Gardner (Fane 75), Bryan (Obadeyi 85), Nepomuceno; Davies, Doyle. Subs (not used): Placide, Dummigan, Wilson, Holloway.
Goals: Davies (35) for Latics. Payne (20), Nolan (65) for Shrewsbury.
Attendance: 4,150 (602 visitors).