Macc’s Jak on track as Latics take flak

JAK McCourt conjured up a fine late goal to seal a Macclesfield win over struggling Oldham.

The Silkmen were already on course to stretch their unbeaten run to four matches when McCourt earned them all three points from a low-quality contest.

Oldham head coach Dino Maamria tore into his struggling team after the whistle, claiming some of his players were “dead wood”.

Oldham are winless in four and Maamria said: “You do the best with the players you inherit, but the more I see the more I know it’s going to take time.

“There has been a lot of transition at the club and too many bad habits have crept in.

“I want players who will compete, play for the fans and care about the badge. Today we needed to bounce back from a bad result and get the fans on our side, but it didn’t happen.

“I’m not going to carry on with the dead wood who don’t show pride in the badge. It’s obvious there is dead wood here and I’m already trying to get some of those people out.”

Macclesfield made a dominant start and could have scored on 21 minutes when Fiacre Kelleher headed off target from Connor Kirby’s setpiece.

Oldham changed their system to gain a foothold in the contest, but their first effort on goal didn’t come until first-half stoppage time when full-back Tom Hamer drove wide from 20 yards.

The hosts then went close through Mohammed Maouche, whose shot flew beyond the far post, while Jonny Smith fired straight at visiting goalkeeper Owen Evans. Macclesfield’s Theo Archibald wasted a rare opening on 72 minutes when his first-time shot ballooned over the crossbar from 16 yards.

The breakthrough came after 86 minutes as Oldham’s Mohamad Sylla was penalised for a foul just outside his own penalty area, giving McCourt the chance to crash home a brilliant free-kick.

Oldham almost levelled, but David Wheater’s header was cleared off the line.

Macclesfield manager Daryl McMahon said: “It’s a good result and a really good performance.

“We said before the game that Oldham would start fast – we did that, but we didn’t affect their goal enough so I wanted us to be more positive around their box”.