Latics pick up a vital win

Photo: Alan Howarth

PENALTY . . . Paul Green

ATHLETIC 2, PETERBOROUGH 0

PAUL Green's second-half penalty and a Ryan McLaughlin goal handed Athletic a vital three-point boost in front of a bumper home crowd.

Green sent goalkeeper Luke McGee the wrong way with the club's first spot-kick of the season after Ryan McLaughlin had been hauled down by Dominic Ball in the 69th minute.

McLaughlin volleyed in a second from close range in the 82nd minute after neat play and a perfect cross from Aaron Amadi-Holloway.

Athletic dominated the second half and went close to breaking the deadlock through a Peter Clarke header that was cleared off the line.

McLaughlin had a shot deflected not far off target in the first half, while Athletic's muscular approach stifled a lacklustre visiting outfit who barely created anything of note.

Marcus Maddison hit the bar in added time, but this was a fully deserved second successive win on home soil for John Sheridan's charges, in front of a crowd of 7,224.