OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2, MANSFIELD TOWN 3
Oldham Athletic’s woeful home form continued following the latest Sky Bet League Two loss to Mansfield Town.
And the results at Boundary Park, where Latics have picked up a meagre seven points from a possible 36, is preventing them from mounting a charge towards the play-offs.
Latics have the second worst home record in the division, a marked contrast to their fortunes on the road when they are top of the form table.
Remarkably, Latics have collected 21 of their 28 points on their travels where their form is terrific.
On a freezing cold and foggy night, head coach Harry Kewell made two changes from the side that lost in the Emirates FA Cup at AFC Bournemouth.
Top scorer Conor McAleny and Callum Whelan replaced Brice Ntambwe, who was struggling with fitness, and Tom Hamer.
Before kick-off, referee, Scott Oldham was replaced by the fourth official Richard Bartlett after he sustained an injury in his warm-up.
The Stags started the early stages on the front foot, but Latics took a sixth-minute lead as McAleny produced great work down the left before cutting inside and crossing for Leeds United loanee Alfie McCalmont to convert.
There was an element of good fortune as McCalmont fired straight at goalkeeper Aidan Stone with the ball squirming through his hands.
McCalmont almost doubled the lead minutes later with his second goal of the game.
He intercepted a pass from Stags’ captain Ryan Sweeney and raced clear only to be denied by the legs of Stone who redeemed himself.
The Stags should have been level but former Bristol Rovers’ player Sweeney fired over with the goal at his mercy.
Nigel Clough’s side turned the first half on its head by scoring two in two minutes, the first came in the 36th minute as Ian Lawlor raced out and punched a cross straight into the path of Harry Charsley who volleyed into an empty net.
Straight after kick-off, Mansfield won a free which was converted by Sweeney at the far post with a neat flick.
The visitors had the momentum behind them and the chance to extend their lead from 12 yards when George Maris was tripped by Raphael Diarra, but Jordan Bowery blasted his penalty wide.
Kewell made three changes at half-time with the introduction of Zak Dearnley, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Dylan Fage.
However, only five minutes into the second period the Stags extended their lead as Jamie Reid got behind Latics’ backline and kept his cool to score.
Town nearly sealed all three points when Charlton Athletic loanee George Lapslie’s 25-yards drive struck the bar.
Latics attempted a comeback when McAleny netted his 14th of the campaign as substitute Danny Rowe’s deflected strike fell perfectly for him and he bent home a shot with six minutes left.
Kewell’s side pushed for an equaliser and came close when a cross from the right found Rowe at the back post and his header looked destined for the bottom corner, but goalkeeper Stone produced a fine stop to deny him with Mansfield holding on.
Oldham Athletic: Lawlor, Clarke, Piergianni, Garrity, Whelan (Dearnley 45, Badan 69), Keillor-Dunn (Rowe 56), Barnett (Borthwick-Jackson 45), McAleny, Diarra (Fage 45), Bahamboula, McCalmont. Subs (not used): Bilboe, Hamer.
Goals: McCalmont, 6, McAleny, 84, for Oldham. Charsley, 36, Sweeney, 38, Reid, 49, for Mansfield.