SCUNTHORPE UNITED 0, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2
Super-subs Patrick McEleney and Eoin Doyle scored the goals that lifted Oldham Athletic out of the Sky Bet League One relegation places following their victory at promotion-chasing Scunthorpe United.
It was a debut goal for McEleney who was signed from Irish club Dundalk in January while Doyle was playing his first game since December after being ruled out through a blood clot.
But it was manager Richie Wellens who pulled off a tactical masterstroke as his three substitutions – he also brought on Aarron Amadi-Holloway – as the changes helped turn the game the way of Latics.
And with 10 points from a possible, lowly Latics have suddenly become one of the division’s form teams with keeper Johny Placide keeping a second successive clean sheet.
Wellens made one change to the side which beat Milton Keynes Dons 18 days earlier in their previous game.
Wilfried Moimbe came back into the side in place of Gevaro Nepomuceno at left back while top scorer Doyle was back on the bench for Latics after he recovered from the blood clot that had kept him out for nearly three months. There was also a place on the bench for McEleney.
Scunthorpe shaded the early possession but it was Latics who had the first effort on goal.
Duckens Nazon’s shot from 25 yards flew straight at Matt Gilks, but it was the home side that started to dominate.
Josh Morris dragged an effort wide from inside the penalty box while minutes later, Rory McArdle headed wide from a corner.
Latics could have taken the lead after 15 minutes as Moimbe drove into the penalty area. He picked out Davies 12 yards from goal but the striker fired over.
Midway through the first half, a mistake from Hakeem Adelakun was almost capitalised on by Craig Davies but the striker was just stopped by McArdle’s last-ditch challenge.
Placide comfortably saved a header from Tom Hopper on the half hour mark.
Two minutes later came Latics’ best chance of the half to take the lead. Jack Byrne played an excellent through ball to Nazon who volleyed wide from 18 yards.
Anthony Gerrard was booked after 39 minutes for holding back Hopper but from the resulting free kick, Placide saved well as the ball looked to be heading towards the top corner.
The final chance of the half went to the home side as Hopper’s header hit the crossbar as the opening period ended goalless.
Wellens introduced McEleney for his long-awaited debut just before the hour and Latics almost took the lead minutes later.
Moimbe’s cross caused problems in the Scunthorpe defence as it fell to Davies at the back post but he could not direct his effort goalwards.
Wellens rolled his final two rolls of the dice on the hour as Holloway replaced Nazon while Doyle was introduced for his second debut in place of Davies.
Latics had to be wary as Duane Holmes sprang the offside trap but dragged his effort wide from 18 yards.
A flurry of changes followed for the home side as both sides struggled to create chances in front of goal.
It would have taken a piece of magic to open up the game, but it ended up coming from a stroke of luck.
Byrne’s shot from 25 yards took a deflection off McEleney and looped over the keeper to give Latics the lead.
One was soon to become two and it was Doyle who was back among the goals.
Amadi-Holloway won the ball in the midfield and played the striker through, he still had a lot to do but he rounded two players and powerfully struck into the bottom corner to seal victory.
Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Placide; Dummigan, Bryan, Gerrard, Moimbe; Fane, Gardner, Pringle (McEleney 58), Byrne, Nazon (Amadi-Holloway 62), Davies (Doyle 62). Subs (not used): De La Paz, Wilson, Hunt, McLaughlin.
Goals: McEleney (78)‚ Doyle (83) for Oldham.
Attendance: 3,715