Dino looking to build on big Latics victory

DINO Maamria championed the performance of his Oldham side after they secured a 3-1 win over Morecambe.

Goals from Mohamed Maouche, Desire Segbe Azpanko and Jonny Smith helped the new Latics head coach record his first victory since taking over at Boundary Park last week.

Latics created a number of early chances, going close after nine minutes when Filipe Morais’ cross found the oncoming Christopher Missilou but the midfielder couldn’t keep his header from going over the bar.

Maamria’s men continued to attack and got in front on 33 minutes, as Maouche connected with Zak Mills’ cross and nodded past Morecambe goalkeeper Barry Roche.

Oldham remained in control and got a second just after the break when another Mills cross fell to Segbe Azpanko and the forward slotted the ball past Roche from a few yards out. The visitors pulled one back on 77 minutes as substitute AJ Leitch-Smith broke into the area and cut the ball back to Shaun Miller, who fired low past Zeus De La Paz.

However, Latics responded instantly and restored their two-goal lead minutes later when Johan Branger-Engone played Smith one-on-one with Roche and the winger struck into the far corner.

“What a performance from the players, from the fans. I thought it was a fantastic day for Oldham,” said Maamria.

“I thought our performance at 2-1 was really good. It’s a learning process, my message to them after the game was that we need to go at 2-0 and get a third or fourth if we can.

“Hopefully, that’s the start of something big to come, I’m not getting carried away but it’s a good start, we can build on that.”

The result moves Oldham up to 20th in League Two.