Maamria’s salute as his Latics run amok
DINO Maamria was delighted with a “brilliant performance” from Oldham in his first game in charge.
Maamria took over from sacked Frenchman Laurent Banide only two days before the clash at Boundary Park, but he inspired the Latics to their second league victory of the campaign.
Mohammed Maouche struck after 33 minutes by heading in a cross from Zak Mills, who also set up Desire Segbe Azankpo to finish emphatically six minutes after the break.
Shaun Miller revived Morecambe by slotting home a 78th-minute pass from AJ Leitch-Smith and, having sacrificed two-goal leads in their last two matches, Oldham could have crumbled again.
Instead, they sealed all three points with the game entering stoppage time when Jonny Smith raced clear to score.
Maamria, the former Stevenage manager, said: “The players’ application was second to none. At 2-1 I wanted us to go for the jugular instead of sitting back, so I’m really pleased with how we finished it off.
“It will be a learning curve for all of us in the next few weeks. I have only just arrived, but it was a brilliant performance.
“Hopefully that’s the start of what’s to come, but we have to build on it and just keep getting better.
“One of our aims is to bring the fans back. We want to show people what they are missing and win as many games as possible.”
The hosts deservedly struck after 33 minutes, with Mills delivering from the right and Maouche nodding in from close range.
Mills was again the creator when Oldham doubled their lead as his excellent cross found Azankpo, who controlled neatly before finishing in style.
Morecambe replied 12 minutes from time when Leitch-Smith did well to set up fellow sub Shaun Miller for a simple tap-in
And Smith settled it after 89 minutes by slamming in Johan Branger’s pass.
Morecambe have now lost seven of their last eight matches in all competitions and manager Jim Bentley admitted: “It’s very tough for us at the moment.
“We have too many under-performing players and partnerships that aren’t working I’m afraid.”