BURY 3, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1
Oldham Athletic suffered a collapse in the last 18 minutes as they suffered a derby defeat at Bury.
Latics conceded all three goals late in the game having taken an early lead through Callum Lang as Nicky Maynard found the net twice while Jay O’Shea was also on target.
The back-to-back defeats were a further dent to Latics’ play-off hopes after picking up only one point from a possible nine as they remain mid-table and eight points adrift of the top seven.
Manager Paul Scholes made changes from the side beaten at home by Morecambe as Jamie Stott and Mohamed Sylla made way for Mohamed Maouche and Lang who had recovered from a hamstring strain.
Latics had an early let off when Maynard turned on the edge of the box before his shot forced a decent save from goalkeeper Daniel Iversen.
However, not long after Latics took an eighth-minute lead following a delightful move.
Rob Hunt played a lovely ball down the channel to Jose Baxter who crossed for Lang to tap home, despite being under pressure.
Latics’ 2,758 fans, who had been allocated both ends of Gigg Lane, were euphoric.
Bury could have been level minutes later when Byron Moore squared a pass to Nicky Adams who blazed over from inside the penalty area.
Callum McFadzean probably should have put Bury level, but his effort at the back post was cleared off the line by captain Peter Clarke before Nicky Maynard blazed over the rebound.
Latics’ goalkeeper Daniel Iversen had to push away an Adams free kick before Latics had another chance when Zak Dearnley had a dangerous cross turned over his own bar by Adam Thompson.
Bury had another chance when Will Aimson fluffed a volley.
Jose Baxter was instrumental in most of Latics’ play in the first half and after a neat flowing move, he saw a shot deflected over as Latics were 1-0 ahead at half time.
Scholes’ men could have doubled the lead on the counter, but Baxter couldn’t keep his curling effort down.
Adam Thompson dragged an effort wide as Bury pressed for an equaliser.
However, with just over 70 minutes on the clock, McFadzean got down the left-hand side and crossed the ball into a melee of bodies with Maynard scrambling home the leveller.
The Shakers took the lead five minutes later as Adams this time was allowed too much space down the right and he pulled it back to O’Shea who fired home.
Rob Hunt had an effort sail over the bar before Maynard sealed the game in the last minute following haphazard Latics’ defending.
Latics won the ball, but hesitation in the six-yard box allowed the Bury striker to nip in and tap home to secure the win for Bury.
Oldham Athletic (4-3-1-2): Iversen; Hunt, Edmundson, Clarke, Nepomuceno; Maouche (Coke 87), Missilou (O’Grady 80), Branger-Engone; Baxter; Lang, Dearnley (Afolayan 75). Subs (not used): Taylor, de la Paz, Stott, Sylla.
Attendance 7,784 (2,758 visitors).