OLDHAM ATHLETIC 3, CAMBRIDGE UTD 1
Manager Frank Bunn admitted harsh words were delivered at half-time as Oldham Athletic recorded a much-needed win against Cambridge United at Boundary Park.
It brought about a spirited second-half fightback as three goals in the last half hour from George Edmundson, Jordan Lyden and Callum Lang overturned an early deficit.
And it lifted Latics back into the top Half of the table as this was only their second win in 10 league games.
Latics, who had Daniel Iversen and Gevaro Nepomuceno on international duty, handed a debut to loan keeper Alex Palmer who had been borrowed from West Brom.
Johan Branger-Engone won a recall out wide while top scorer Sam Surridge was back on the bench after a five-week injury lay off.
Latics fell behind with virtually the first chance of the game as Gerorge Maris picked up the ball around 35 yards out and fired an unstoppable shot past Palmer.
Maris then turn provided for Paul Lewis who tried his luck from distance, but he could only curl the effort over the bar.
Maris then found himself clean through on goal after a pass from Jabo Iberhe, but this time Palmer denied the Cambridge goalscorer with a smart save. Had they gone 2-0 ahead, it would have been a long way back for Latics.
Latics created a clear-cut chance as Dan Gardner’s free kick fell to Andy Taylor, but the defender saw his shot blocked by Jake Carroll in front of goal.
Bunn’s verbal lashing had a noticeable effect as Latics were a completely different side in the second half.
Latics’ corner fell invitingly to Cameron Dummigan, but he couldn’t keep his effort down.
However, it was from another corner just after the hour that Latics equalised as Edmundson rose highest to head home.
Maris hit another effort wide before Bunn introduced Surridge on his long-awaited return from injury.
Moments later goalkeeper keeper David Forde came rushing out of his goal and gifted a clearance to Lyden who passed the ball, almost in slow motion, into the net from just inside the Cambridge half.
The game was all but wrapped up 10 minutes left as Surridge played the ball into Lang, who drove at the Cambridge back four before smashing an effort through the hands of Forde.
It was very much to coin a famous footballing cliché a game of two halves for Latics, but a much-needed return to winning ways in the league.
Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Palmer; Hunt, Clarke, Edmundson, Taylor; Dummigan (Surridge 70), Gardner (Maouche 67), Lyden, Branger-Engone; Lang, Miller. Subs (not used): O’Grady, Missilou, Graham, Hamer, McFarlane.
The goals: George Edmundson (61), Jordan Lyden (76), Callum Lang (80) for Latics. George Maris (7) for Cambridge.
Attendance 3,818 (290 visitors).