Oldham Athletic 2 Morecambe 3: Super Shrimps go top of the table!

Morecambe made it four wins in five games as they moved top of the League Two table with victory over Harry Kewell’s Oldham.
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Derek Adams’ side clinched top spot thanks to goals from Aaron Wildig, Alex Kenyon and Cole Stockton, with former Fleetwood striker Conor McAleny bagging two for the struggling home side who ended the day at the bottom of the table.

The Shrimps started with the same side that beat Port Vale at the Mazuma Stadium last weekend and they always looked the more threatening in the opening stages. John O’Sullivan fired an effort wide after just three minutes before seeing a shot on the turn well saved by Ian Lawlor low to his left.

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The Oldham keeper had to be at his best again moments later when he tipped another O’Sullivan shot around the post, before he produced a remarkable save low to his right to tip away a closer-range Harry Davis header.

Aaron Wildig was among the Morecambe scorers (Getty Images)Aaron Wildig was among the Morecambe scorers (Getty Images)
Aaron Wildig was among the Morecambe scorers (Getty Images)

After a terrible start Oldham began to forge their way into the game with Jordan Barnett firing a shot into the side netting and the Shrimps forced to defend a string of threatening long throws from Tom Hamer.

As the half came to a close the Shrimps wrestled back control and scored the opening goal of the game on 42 minutes.

Ryan Cooney provided the assist with a superb cross from the right which was met by the diving Wildig, whose header squirmed past Lawlor, who was clearly struggling after picking up a muscle injury earlier in the half.

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The Oldham keeper was replaced by rookie youngster Mackenzie Chapman at the break and hopes were high that the Shrimps would build on their lead.

But their hopes were hit early in the second half as Oldham pulled a goal back on 52 minutes. Dylan Fage’s cross found McAleny on the left-hand side of the box and he cut inside before curling a well-placed effort past Jake Turner.

The goal came as something of a shock but the Shrimps responded in perfect fashion with a second goal on the hour. Wildig swung in a left-wing corner to the near post and Kenyon nipped in front of his marker to head past sub keeper Chapman.

The Shrimps added to their advantage six minutes later with one of their now trademark goals on the counter-attack. Liam Gibson won the ball in midfield and sent O’Sullivan away down the right wing.

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The midfielder went on to produce a pinpoint cross into the box for Stockton to score his first goal of the season with a fine header past Chapman.

Oldham came back again with substitute Dylan Bahamboula’s excellent cross giving McAleny the perfect chance to score with a fine header to set up a nervous finale. The home side continued to press but the Shrimps produced some vital blocks to keep hold of the lead and the three points.

Oldham: Lawlor (Chapman 46), Jombati. (Rowe 69), Hamer, Piergianni, Fage, Garrity, Blackwood, Whelan, Barmett, McAleny, Dearnley (Bahamboila 59). Subs (not used): Keillor-Dunn, Grant, Jameson, Sutton.

Morecambe: Turner, Cooney, Lavelle, Davis, Gibson, Phillips (Songo’o 87), Wildig, Kenyon, O’Sullivan, Mendes-Gomes (Knight-Percival 90), Stockton (McAlinden 90). Subs (not used): Da Silva Mendes, Mellor, Slew, Pringle.

Referee: J Smith.