Latics all out of luck after Lapslie sticks the knife in
NIGEL Clough felt sympathy for struggling Oldham after George Lapslie struck in the 95th minute to secure a late win and lift the Stags within a point of the play-offs.
Lapslie pounced on a rebound after Rhys Oates’ shot bounced out off a post to condemn Oldham to a sixth-straight defeat.
Oates had earlier cancelled out a goal from Davis Keillor-Dunn for the hosts.
Mansfield boss Clough said: “It’s a fantastic victory. We created a number of chances in that second half, but I suppose to go on and win it with a goal like that was a bit fortuitous. It was hard on Oldham.
“I think some of the players are mentally fatigued and tired, but we do have to be better and I’ve told the players that.”
Mansfield threatened early on when Oates skipped past defender Jordan Clarke before seeing a 20-yard drive saved by Danny Rogers, and he was denied again by the keeper soon after.
Oldham then struck in the 23rd minute when Jack Stobbs crossed in for Keillor-Dunn to head home his 14th goal of the season.
Minutes after the restart, Mansfield loanee Matty Longstaff was denied by a brilliant point-blank save by Rogers. But Longstaff then teed up Oates, who clinically rifled home the equaliser via a slight deflection.
Stephen Quinn came close to notching a second for Mansfield, as did half-time sub and midweek match-winner Jordan Bowery.
Lapslie headed narrowly wide late on, before then going on to seal victory in dramatic fashion.
Oldham boss John Sheridan felt hard done by from the result, but felt his team could have done to control the game.
He admitted: “It’s a cruel way to lose. But we should be more switched on in those situations, especially so late in the game.
“It’s hard to take, because we’d played well in the first half against a team going for promotion. We were excellent in the first half and could have been 3-0 up at halftime.
“I could hear Nigel giving his lads a rollicking at halftime, and they did come out fired up. It is really cruel, but it’s been our own doing, and not for the first time.
“Silly errors cost you dearly. We definitely need more of a killer instinct in front of goal.”