SOUTHEND UNITED 1, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2
The stark contrast between Oldham Athletic’s home and away form was starkly underlined by their second away win of the season.
It was a second league victory on the road and, with seven points from a possible 12, they are in the top 10 in the form table.
That is far removed to their home record of only one point from a possible 12 as they sit 22nd in this league table.
It was another night of high drama as Zak Dearnley struck a late winner for Latics at Roots Hall.
It was his fourth goal in as many games, and he has developed a knack of scoring hugely important last-gasp goals with this another.
Second-half substitute Dearnley, who was unable to start because of an injury sustained against Port Vale, struck with a minute of normal time to play, latching onto Callum Whelan’s pass from midfield. He displayed great composure taking the ball around goalkeeper Mark Oxley before finishing coolly.
Latics took the lead through Bobby Grant but it looked as though they would be made to rue a host of missed chances when Tom Clifford equalised.
Latics made six changes from the Port Vale defeat, Dearnley taking a place on the bench due to a knock with Grant and Davis Keillor-Dunn coming into the attack.
Brice Ntambwe, having made his debut in the win at Bolton, also returned to the team.
The first half was short of incident with chances difficult to come by at both ends. Southend had plenty of the early play without finding a cutting edge and although Latics saw more of the ball as the half progressed they lacked a threat.
Jason Demetriou had the first chance for Southend, firing wide after latching on to Carl Piergianni’s header clearance.
Latics’ best chance of the half came after 16 minutes when Dylan Fage, having been released down the right by Grant, cut inside but shot over.
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson was also off target as the opening half ended goaless.
Latics wasted little time in opening the scoring after the break. Borthwick-Jackson made a strong run down the left before crossing for Grant to turn home from close range.
With two chances in quick succession, Conor McAleny came within inches of extending Latics’ lead. First, having found space 20 yards from goal, he struck the Southend upright before drawing a parrying save from keeper Oxley with an angled effort minutes later.
Yet Latics were pegged back after 75 minutes, Clifford curling a 20-yard free-kick around the visitors’ wall and inside the post.
And the home side almost took the lead when substitute Brandon Goodship crashed a free kick against the crossbar.
But it was Dearnley who turned out to be the visitors’ own super sub, keeping his cool in the dying moments to send Latics back home with a vital win.
Oldham: Lawlor, Clarke, Borthwick-Jackson, Piergianni, Whelan, Keillor-Dunn (Dearnley 68), Grant, Fage (Bahamboula 81), Jameson, Ntambwe, McAleny. Subs (not used): Bilboe, Barnett, Hamer, McCalmont, Rowe.
Goals: Clifford, 76, for Southend. Grant, 49, Dearnley, 89, for Oldham.