Dearnley on target again as Latics pile more misery on Southend

The club have jumped up 2 places in the league two table after the win.

Zak Dearnley’s impressive run in front of goal continued on Tuesday night (27th October) as Oldham secured victory at rock-bottom of the table Southend United.

Despite going without a win on home soil in the league so far this season, Latics’ away form has been much better by contrast and it improved still further with a dramatic last-minute win at Roots Hall.

It was a first half soon to be forgotten but Oldham claimed the lead shortly after halftime when Cameron Borthwick-Jackson crossed from the left-wing, picking out Bobby Grant perfectly for him to fire home from close range.

You could’ve been forgiven for thinking that goal would’ve woken up their hosts but it was Oldham, who were still without manager Harry Kewell in the dugout as he recovers from a positive Covid-19 test, who came closest to doubling their lead.

Conor McAleny firing against the post when he looked odds-on to find the back of the net.

After being handed that reprieve, the Shrimpers then levelled things up midway through the second half, and it was a very nice goal from Tom Clifford who opened his account in senior football by popping a 25-yard freekick inside the post.

After that it looked like the points would be shared between the two teams but Zak Dearnley had other things on his mind.

The substitute picked the ball up with time ticking down, rounded Mark Oxley in the Southend goal before converting his fourth goal in as many games and help Oldham collect all three points.

The victory moves Latics onto eight points and pushes them up to 20th in the League Two table.

Next up for Latics is a Greater Manchester derby with a little bit more spice added to the mix as well. Salford City will host Oldham on Saturday (31st October) with a familiar face in the Salford dugout. Former Latics manager Paul Scholes has taken up the reins at Salford and will be trying to get revenge on his former employers.