Latics end winless run
Oldham claim much-needed win
By Hayley Paterson. Last Updated: December 12, 2009 9:35pm
Smalley: Opened scoring
Oldham picked up their first win in seven league games to leapfrog Exeter near the bottom of the table following a 2-0 win.
Strike pairing Deane Smalley and Paul Heffernan bagged a second-half goal apiece as the Latics shrugged off their dismal run with a comfortable victory.
Exeter could have taken an early lead when midfield man Bertie Cozic clipped the bar from fully 30 yards.
Adam Stansfield was denied by home keeper Darryl Flahavan but Oldham took charge and Danny Whitaker went close on three occasions.
The breakthrough came on 51 minutes as Dean Furman found Smalley who produced a crisp 12-yard finish inside the far post.
Deflected shot
And Oldham, who went into the game as the division's lowest scorers, made it two goals in seven minutes when Heffernan's deflected shot looped over keeper Andy Marriott.
The on-loan Doncaster Rovers forward then teed up Whitaker for a drive which flew off target.
Exeter had a good chance to pull one back just after the hour but Stansfield blazed wide from 14 yards, meaning the Grecians have now suffered three straight defeats without scoring.
Matches
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npower League 1
Table
npower League 1
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 84 |
| 2 | Bournemouth | 46 | 83 |
| 3 | Brentford | 46 | 79 |
| 4 | Yeovil Town | 46 | 77 |
| 5 | Sheffield United | 46 | 75 |
| 6 | Swindon Town | 46 | 74 |
| 7 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 71 |
| 8 | Milton Keynes Dons | 46 | 70 |
| 9 | Walsall | 46 | 68 |
| 10 | Crawley Town | 46 | 68 |
| 11 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 67 |
| 12 | Notts County | 46 | 65 |
| 13 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 64 |
| 14 | Preston North End | 46 | 59 |
| 15 | Coventry City | 46 | 55 |
| 16 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 55 |
| 17 | Carlisle United | 46 | 55 |
| 18 | Stevenage | 46 | 54 |
| 19 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 51 |
| 20 | Colchester United | 46 | 51 |
| 21 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 48 |
| 22 | Bury | 46 | 41 |
| 23 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 41 |
| 24 | Portsmouth | 46 | 32 |
Deane Smalley
Bertrand Cozic
