OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1, MANSFIELD TOWN 2
Oldham Athletic suffered further late heartbreak as they crashed to a sixth straight League Two defeat at home to Mansfield Town.
This was the third time in the disappointing spell that Latics had been beaten by an injury-time goal as they were beaten at home in the league for a 12th time in 19 matches.
The amazing thing is that after six losses on the spin, Latics’ plight has not worsened as they remain three points adrift of a position of safety.
And it is beginning to look that the match at third-bottom Stevenage on Saturday, April 2 will have a massive bearing on the relegation battle.
Yet against Nigel Clough’s Mansfield, Latics began brightly and took a first-half lead through Davis Keillor-Dunn, but in the second half Rhys Oates equalised before George Lapslie bundled in a stoppage-time winner
With the visitors in search of back-to-back away wins, head coach John Sheridan made two changes from the midweek defeat against Sutton United. Most notably, Carl Piergianni returned to the side after serving a two-match suspension and Dylan Bahamboula was also recalled.
Both sides began with attacking intent which saw Oates cleverly cut inside from the left-wing before he drilled a low effort goalwards, but Danny Rogers comfortably denied the attacker.
Nicky Adams delivered a pinpoint cross towards a towering Piergianni near the penalty spot with Nathan Bishop comfortably keeping hold of the skipper’s header, but it offered Latics positive signs.
Following that, Stephen McLaughlin raced down the left and sent Oates one-on-one with Latics’ shot-stopper, but his low strike was excellently denied by the ‘keeper.
In the 24th minute, Keillor-Dunn put the hosts ahead after remarkable work from teammate Jack Stobbs who received possession towards the halfway line, and then, began a skilful dribble down the right before supplying an outstanding cross to the Sunderland-born man who steered his header into the bottom corner.
Latics were gathering momentum and forced the visitors into needless errors as the interval neared. Once again, Adams provided an impressive corner onto the head of Piergianni with the goalkeeper parrying the effort over the crossbar.
A half-time substitute, Jordan Bowery endeavoured to make an impact on the game, and he almost did just that within a minute of his introduction. The former Aston Villa striker picked up the ball on the by-line before he selflessly pulled it back to Matty Longstaff inside the six-yard box, but somehow, Rogers kept him at bay.
Latics should have extended their advantage as Stobbs won possession inside the area, and then, laid the ball back to Keillor-Dunn whose weak attempt failed to cause the goalkeeper any problem.
Sheridan’s side was left to rue their missed opportunities with Oates finding the back of the net with a deflected effort in the 53rd minute to the joy of the 1,300 away fans.
The Stags started to apply pressure and were nearly celebrating again when McLaughlin raced into the area, but he dragged his shot wide. Then, a corner found Ollie Hawkins inside the six-yard box, but he was denied by Rogers.
In added time, Latics suffered more heartbreak as Mansfield clinched all three points courtesy of a substitute. Oates’ striker struck the post before it hit an unmarked Lapslie inside the six-yard box and rolled over the line.
In the final seconds, the Stags were determined to remain tight at the back and they managed to see out the victory which was huge in their pursuit of a play-off place.
Oldham Athletic: Rogers, Clarke, Piergianni, Adams (Hunt 67), Whelan, Hope, Keillor-Dunn, Stobbs (Vaughan 74), Bahamboula, Sutton, Couto (Fage 68). Subs (unused): Leutwiler, Da Silva, Diarra, Hopcutt.
Goals: Keillor-Dunn (24) for Oldham Athletic. Oates (53), Lapslie (90+5) for Mansfield Town.
Attendance: 6,042 (1,321 visitors).