STEVENAGE 3, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2
Oldham Athletic’s slide down Sky Bet League Two continued following their defeat at Stevenage where they twice held the lead.
Latics, now 17th in the table, are worryingly third bottom in the form table for the last six league games.
Indeed, Frank Bunn’s side has won only once it its last eight games as an immediate return to League One is receding by the week.
It was a frustrating loss at high-flying Stevenage as Latics twice held the lead through goals from Ishmael Miller and Callum Lange.
Each time Stevenage hit back with substitute Danny Newton hitting the winner with nine minutes left.
And Bunn later lamented: “They (Stevenage) had very few efforts on goal and we had numerous chances.
“We scored two goals and, whenever you score two away from home, you expect to come away with at least one point.
“That wasn’t like us because, when we have taken the lead this season, we have usually been able to see the game out.”
Striker Jonathan Benteke was rewarded for his goalscoring exploits from the bench as he partnered Miller up front.
They were the two in-form front men in the injury-enforced absence of nine-goal top scorer Sam Surridge while Chris O’Grady and Jose Baxter have been struggling to find the net.
Latics were quick out of the blocks well as Miller drove forward and saw a shot deflect inches wide.
Moments later Gevaro Nepomuceno crossed for Benteke who put a glorious chance off target.
And it was no surprise when Latics took a deserved 11th minute lead as Nepomuceno’s corner eventually fell to Miller who shot on the turn low past Seny Dieng in the Stevenage goal.
The whole team ran over to celebrate with manager Frank Bunn in a big group huddle as Latics were rewarded for their early dominance.
Stevenage got themselves a foothold in the game and Daniel Iversen had to be at his very best to deny an Alex Revell header.
Revell volleyed another chance wide before the hosts equalised through Joel Byrom midway through the opening half.
Jamal Campbell-Ryce crossed from the right and Iversen’s punched clearance fell to Byrom and his shot from the edge of the box went in via a deflection.
Latics had a great chance to go in at half-time with a lead when captain Peter Clarke headed narrowly wide from a Dan Gardner free kick.
Miller had a chance at the start of the second half heading wide from a Callum Lang cross.
Miller then tried to chip Dieng from the half-way line and the ball narrowly cleared the bar.
Latics regained the lead midway through the second half when Lang bundled in a Nepomuceno cross.
However, Stevenage had a stroke of luck five minutes late as they equalised. Danny Newton cut inside and his deflected shot landed right on the head of Curtis Guthrie to score.
Stevenage hit the winner with nine minutes left when Steve Seddon then got in down the left-hand side and crossed for Newton to head past Iversen as they suffered back-to-back away league losses having been unbeaten on the road since March.
Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Iversen, Hamer (Dummingan 90), Clarke, Edmundson, Hunt; Lang, Gardner (Lyden 74), Missilou, Nepomuceno; Miller, Benteke (Baxter 88). Subs (not used): O’Grady, Graham, Maouche, McFarlane.
Attendance: 2,583