OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1, MORECAMBE 2
Conceding late goals is proving costly for new Oldham Athletic manager Paul Scholes after his side lost at home to Morecambe, a side battling to preserve its EFL status.
After conceding an injury-time equaliser at home to Crewe Alexandra three days earlier, Latics slipped up for a second time at Boundary Park.
This time the Shrimps snatched a last-minute victory thanks to a goal from Aaron Collins.
Latics, who fell behind to a Jordan Cranston goal, battled back to draw level through Jose Baxter as they looked set to earn a point.
Latics had an enforced change as Saturday’s scorer Callum Lang was ruled out through a hamstring strain.
Striker Zak Dearnley and midfielder Mohamed Maouche also lost out as Scholes made three changes from Saturday as Jamie Stott, Mohamed Sylla and Chris O’Grady won call ups.
The visitors took the lead within five minutes as Latics failed to clear the initial danger and Zak Mills crossed to Cranston who swept home the opening goal.
Scholes’ men were finding it hard to get a foothold in the game as Cranston had a free kick pushed away by Daniel Iversen.
Iversen had to be at his best minutes later as Piero Mingoia found Carlos Mendes-Gomes whose effort was pushed away by the Dane.
Latics eventually created an opening as Gevaro Nepomuceno put a beautiful cross into O’Grady, but he could only miscue his header wide.
O’Grady headed a cross down to Baxter who would be denied by a fantastic save from Mark Halstead in the Morecambe goal.
Centre backs Peter Clarke and George Edmundson both forced Halstead into saves before goalscorer Cranston wasted a golden opportunity at the other end for Morecambe.
O’Grady forced Halstead into another smart stop early in the second half as Latics piled on the pressure for the equaliser.
In truth Latics didn’t created much until 15 minutes left on the clock when Baxter found the net.
He was picked out well by Johan Branger-Engone from the left and Baxter rose highest to head home.
Mingoia forced a stunning save from Iversen before substitute Urko Vera was denied by a fingertip save from Halstead.
However, Morecambe stole the three points in the 90th minute when Liam Mandeville turned well in the box before laying it on a plate for Collins to tap home.
Oldham Athletic (4-4-1-1): Iversen; Hunt, Edmundson, Clarke, Stott (Dearnley 50); Branger-Engone, Sylla (Maouche 60), Missilou, Nepomuceno; Baxter, O’Grady (Vera 72). Subs (not used): Coke, de la Paz, Taylor, Robinson.
Attendance 4,218 (337 visitors).