OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0, EXETER CITY 2
The feel-good factor which followed head coach John Sheridan’s return to Boundary Park seems a distant memory.
Sheridan, unbeaten in his first seven games, has now lost four in a row following the home defeat by promotion-chasing Exeter City.
Latics, who had briefly climbed out of the relegation places, are now back in the bottom two and three points from safety.
And halting the slide toward the National League remains the focus for Sheridan.
It wasn’t an ideal time for Latics to be hosting the Grecians who now have lost only one of 13 league matches to climb from outside the play-off places to second spot.
Kyle Taylor fired the Devon side into a 52nd minute lead before Latics failed to draw level when Sam Hart missed a penalty.
Nigel Atangana received a red card for the Grecians late on, but the 10 men still managed to extend their advantage courtesy of Jevani Brown in the sixth minute of added time.
Following a midweek defeat at Walsall, Sheridan made three changes to his side as Jordan Clarke, Tope Obadeyi and Callum Whelan returned.
After an uneventful opening, Dylan Fage had a great chance to put Latics ahead as the full-back raced clean through on goal but dragged his shot wide.
Davis Keillor-Dunn, looking to recapture his fabulous February form, cleverly crafted an opening for himself on the edge of the area on the half hour. He spun his marker, but saw his shot tipped over his crossbar by goalkeeper Cameron Dawson.
Exeter’s best chance of the opening period just before the interval saw Pierce Sweeney head narrowly wide from Archie Collins’ corner.
Exeter manager Matt Taylor’s half-time team talk worked a treat as the Grecians broke the deadlock soon after the restart. Jack Caprice’s cross was headed home by Kyle Taylor, the former AFC Bournemouth prospect.
They should have doubled their advantage after Sam Stubbs somehow directed his unmarked header from the inside six-yard box over the crossbar, a huge let off.
Latics were given a route back into the game with 20 minutes left when they were awarded a penalty for Caprice’s raised foot which caught Christopher Missilou, but Hart’s spot kick was saved by Dawson diving low to his left.
Latics have now missed both penalties that they have won this campaign.
Exeter were reduced numerically in stoppage time when Nigel Atangana clumsily fouled Missilou on the halfway line which give the referee no choice but to send him off.
But the 10 men doubled their lead in the sixth minute of added time when substitute Matt Jay weaves his way into the penalty area before cutting the ball back to Jevani Brown who bent an effort into the top corner to put the seal on another disappointing result for Latics in their bid for survival.
Oldham Athletic: Rogers, Clarke, Hart, Adams, Whelan, Hope (Stobbs 90), Keillor-Dunn, Fage (Missilou 65), Hunt, Obadeyi, Sutton. Subs (not used): Leutwiler, Diarra, Bahamboula, Couto, Vaughan.
Goals: Taylor (52), J Brown (90+6) for Exeter City.
Attendance: 5,111 (452 visitors).