Doyle the hero in five-goal thriller as Latics grab first win
OLDHAM grabbed their first win of the season with a 3-2 victory amid a crazy second half at Bristol Rovers.
After a scoreless first period, Jack Byrne’s superb long-range strike and a low drive by Craig Davies appeared to have set John Sheridan’s side on easy street.
But with only seven minutes left at the Memorial Stadium, the hosts stunned Oldham with quick-fire strikes within two minutes of each other to draw level, thanks to goals by Rory Gaffney and Ryan Sweeney.
Then up popped Eoin Doyle in the 88th minute, converting a left-wing cross with a powerful header, to hand the visitors a first victory of the season in a dramatic finale.
The hosts started the stronger and whipped in a number of dangerous crosses.
Byron Moore was a particular thorn in the side down Rovers’ right and from one centre, Ellis Harrison steamed in and looked certain to score after 18 minutes – only for defender George Edmundson to put him off enough to scuff his shot tamely into Jack Ruddy’s hands.
Sheridan’s side got to grips with the game and edged into superiority as the first half drew to a close.
And quite how Davies didn’t find the net in the 41st minute remains open to debate.
In a carbon-copy move of that which opened the scoring at Fleetwood three days earlier, Byrne freed Doyle down the right and his excellent cross was somehow deflected on to the crossbar and over. With the wind in their favour for the second half, the message would have been to have a crack at every opportunity.
And how Byrne heeded that cue four minutes in. Picking up the ball just inside the Rovers half, he advanced and let fly for a 30-yard effort that sailed past a stunned Adam Smith and into his top-left corner.
Oldham were indebted to their goalkeeper Ruddy for a superb save in the 67th minute, as he dived to his left to tip over a shot from Tom Nichols.
On 71 minutes, Davies seemed to have made the game safe. Byrne produced some neat footwork down the left, burrowing past defenders before laying off to the left edge of the area.
Former Bolton and Wigan man Davies, a hard-working menace all game, ran around the ball to create an angle for a low shot that squeezed past Smith at his near post.
There was a major escape as Moore blazed hopelessly wide when presented with a loose ball on the penalty spot with the goal at his mercy on 75 minutes.
But as the rain returned, Rory Gaffney was played in down the right side of the area and applied a smart low right-footed finish under Ruddy to halve the deficit on 83 minutes.
Two minutes later, Rovers were level. A free-kick was whipped in from the right and Sweeney headed past Ruddy.
Then Doyle struck, netting clinically from a lovely Kean Bryan cross. MEANWHILE, ROCHDALE also got their first victory after a last gasp 2-1 win at home by Doncaster Rovers.
John Marquis put Doncaster ahead on 74 minutes, but stoppage time goals from Mark Kitching and Steve Davies got Keith Hill’s side the win.
BURY continue to struggle after they lost 3-2 against Fleetwood Town at Highbury.
Ashley Hunter scored the winner for Fleetwood before Beckford missed a late penalty.
WIGAN ATHLETIC returned to winning ways after a 3-0 victory at Charlton Athletic.
In the Championship, BOLTON WANDERERS stay bottom after a 1-0 defeat.