OLDHAM ATHLETIC 5, COLCHESTER UNITED 2
It was high fives for Oldham Athletic who recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since November as they vanquished spirited Colchester United at Boundary Park.
This was the first time in the current campaign in which Latics scored five goals, indeed they last did it against Newport County at home more than 13 months ago.
And suddenly head coach Keith Curle’s side has become free scoring with nine in the last two matches.
What a contrast to the meagre six goals in his first seven games in charge.
After a dominant 4-1 win at Crawley Town on Easter Monday, Curle named an unchanged team for the visit of Colchester United in this Sky Bet League Two fixture.
Before kick-off, a tribute was paid to the Duke of Edinburgh as both sides observed a two-minute silence in his memory.
Dylan Bahamboula manufactured the first chance of the game for himself in the 12th minute, but his effort was well kept out by goalkeeper Dean Gerken.
The visitors thought they had been handed a gift when Whelan played a back pass to Laurie Walker which looked destined for the back of the net, but the goalkeeper was able to recover as clear.
Latics took the lead in the 37th minute as Keillor-Dunn produced delightful footwork inside the box before Tom Eastman brought him down for a penalty.
Top scorer, Conor McAleny stepped up and slotted home the spot kick, his 19th goal of the season.
The hosts continued to put pressure on the U’s and Dylan Fage delivered a low cross to McAleny who curled his effort just wide of the post.
Just before half-time, Latics doubled their advantage with a comical, but effective, free-kick routine which stunned the visitors. Several Latics players danced in front of the goalkeeper to distract him before Alfie McCalmont curled a free kick in off the post for his 10th goal of the season.
At the start of the second interval, Bahamboula played McAleny in behind the visiting defence, but his low strike was saved by Gerken.
Curle’s side nearly made it three but was somehow denied on three occasions in the same attack. First, McCalmont’s effort from a tight angle was saved before Gerken denied McAleny from the rebound and then Bahamboula’s strike was cleared off the line.
However, in the 56th minute, Latics scored another courtesy of the skipper as Piergianni followed up his initial header to flick the rebound past Gerken from close range.
Colchester United nearly pulled a goal back as captain Harry Pell hit the upright before Frank Nouble smashed over the rebound.
Moments later the visitors managed to get a goal back as Nouble raced down the left before cutting inside and slotting a low shot under the advancing Walker.
In the 81st minute, the U’s found themselves another goal as the experienced Kyle Eastman’s effort went through Walker to make it a tense last 10 minutes with the deficit reduced to 3-2.
Ryan Clampin was closed to finding an equaliser as he waltzed clear, but Walker blocked his shot.
The three points were secured in the last minute through Keillor-Dunn as he received the ball inside the opposition’s half before advancing and smashing home a low shot.
Keillor-Dunn wasn’t finished there as he made it a five-star performance for Latics as he scored a fifth after being set up by Whelan.
Oldham Athletic: Walker, Clarke, Borthwick-Jackson, Piergianni, Whelan, Keillor-Dunn, Fage (Diarra 88), Jameson (Adams 51), McAleny (Garrity 70), Bahamboula (Hilssner 88), McCalmont. Subs (not used): Chapman, Ntambwe, Badan.
Goals: McAleny, 37 pen, McCalmont, 42, Piergianni, 56, Keillor-Dunn 90, 90+5) for Oldham. Nouble, 64, Eastham, 81, for Colchester.