Town 3 Oldham Athletic 2
Town: Jayson Leutwiler, Joe Riley, Olly Lancashire, Abu Ogogo, Ivan Toney (George Waring 81), Louis Dodds (Ian Black 79), Junior Brown, Jack Grimmer, Gary Deegan, Adam El-Abd, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Andy Mangan 60)Unused Subs: Mark Halstead, Shaun Whalley, Antoni Sarcevic, Moha Choulay,
Oldham Athletic: Connor Ripley, Josh Law, Cameron Burgess, Ryan Flynn (Lee Croft 61), Billy McKay (Darius Osei 61), Freddie Ladapo, Lee Erwin, Ousama Fane, Peter Clarke (C), Paul Green, Charles Dunne
Unused Subs: Chris Kettings, Brian Wilson, Marc Klok, Ollie Banks, Ryan McLaughlin
Referee: A Haines
Assistant Referee: K Mulraine and H Byrne
Fourth Official: C Ward
Micky Mellon makes six changes from the side which faced Cambridge United on Tuesday night. Gary Deegan, Adam El-Abd, Ivan Toney and Louis Dodds all return to the fold, whilst new signings Jack Grimmer and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake make their debuts.
It was difficult conditions at the SportsDirect.com Park as rained had fallen throughout the day in Oldham.
The home side had the better of the early stages with Town giving away a number of free kicks in dangerous areas. Lee Erwin going closest from a Paul Green free kick.
But, Town managed to get a foothold in the game and could have taken the lead just before the quarter of the hour mark when some fine work from Ogogo and Toney put Dodds through but his effort was tame when one on one with Ripley.
Town came close just minutes later when Joe Riley’s corner evaded everyone when just a touch would have seen Town score.
But, Oldham took the lead on the 24 minute mark when Abu Ogogo gave away a free kick on the edge of the box and Josh Law curled home a sumptuous effort past the despairing dive of Jayson Leutwiler.
Town nearly went two-nil behind after Abu Ogogo again gave away a free kick and was booked and the resulting ball into the box played a game of pinball before Jayson Leutwiler made a great save and the ball was cleared.
Town had a good change with just five minutes remaining in the half when some good work down the Shrewsbury right from Grimmer led to the ball going to Ogogo but his shot from distance was blocked.
Town got the equaliser just before half time after Joe Riley’s corner was cleared as far as Grimmer, who played it back to Riley and his left footed cross was headed home by Junior Brown for his second of the campaign.
Half Time: 1-1
Oldham could have taken the lead just after the break when some good work in the centre of the park put Freddie Ladapo through but his shot went wide of Jayson Leutwiler’s left hand post.
Town took the lead on 50 minutes from the penalty spot. Ivan Toney was brought down during a corner and Referee Haines pointed to the spot. Toney picked himself up and sent Ripley the wrong way to give Town the lead.
The game began to spice up as the Oldham fans began to get onto the back of the referee and matters were made worse when Adam El-Abd appeared to pull down Peter Clarke in the box, but Mr Haines waived away the appeals.
Town made their first substitution of the afternoon on 60 minutes as Andy Mangan replaced Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and they soon doubled their advantage on 62 minutes as Louis Dodds turned in space in the middle and fed Joe Riley who hit a thunderbolt from the edge of the area to make it 3-1.
Oldham were then down to 10 men when Ousmane Fane was sent off for a second bookable offence after a foul on Abu Ogogo.
Despite being down to 10 men Oldham came on strong and Town had Leutwiler to thank when he made a good save from a Darius Osei shot.
Town had two good chances to make it 4-1 but Conor Ripley denied both Ivan Toney and Jack Grimmer in quick succession.
Oldham again threatened when Ladapo found himself in behind the Town defence but Leutwiler made himself big to get it behind for a corner.
The resulting corner saw Oldham get a goal back when Town failed to clear and Lee Erwin scored on the turn in a crowded penalty area with just 8 minutes remaining.
Oldham began to dominate the ball in the late stages and should have scored when Ladapo got onto the end of a cross from Law but his effort thundered against the crossbar when it looked easier to score.
Oldham continued to pour men forward but Town held on for the win.
Full Time: 2-3